Halo LAN. Halo PC LAN that is.
Submitted by rapture on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 4:47pm.
HSV-area THX'ers:
Let's hold a major THX LAN. A HALO: PC LAN.
Say what? A PC LAN? This is madness!
Let's me explain why I think a PC LAN would be possibly a better way to LAN Halo PC. And then let me know how you feel about this. But, you'll have to check your PC gaming vs console gaming debate at the door.
The reason we are going to LAN on PC is because near the same amount of hardware OR LESS is required to LAN on PC and there are some software advantages built into the Halo PC game that make Halo: CE gaming more enjoyable.
Advantages to LAN this way:
1) First off, you can hook your XBOX 360 or original XBOX controller (with USB connector) to the PC and play just like you could on the console. So, you don’t have to worry about having to use a keyboard or mouse. That said, some of the gamers can choose to use the kb/m if they like.
2) Get your own screen. You don't have to share. Fullscreen gaming at a resolution as high as whatever your video card can support. When you LANned on XBOX, you could only play on up to 4 XBOXen at a time. No more 240p gaming (yeah, you only had 240 lines of horizontal resolution at most when you splitscreened on a TV). You can game at 1600 x 1200 or higher if you want on a PC monitor. 16 players can have their own screen.
3) Play on your laptop. Imagine just bringing a little notebook computer and that’s all you need.
4) Halo PC works well on old machines. In 2004, Halo PC ran just fine on Intel Centrino laptop computers. Chances are that your laptop bought in the last couple or 3 years or old desktop PC will run the game adequately. The game is almost 6 years old.
5) The server browser will make finding/setting up games very easy.
6) Really easy to divide up teams as you don’t have to compete with screen real-estate of others at the LAN.
7) HD graphics/audio.
8) You can Facebook while you wait to respawn after I kill you.
So, the main reason to LAN on PC is because everyone can have their own screen and because it's a lot easier to set up games as you don't have to auction off TV screens to teams/players.
Think of it as an old school Halo 1 LAN but with your own screen, up to 16 players, and the ability to play with a controller or keyboard and mouse.
Several THXers will have multiple computers to loan out for the day. For instance, I can bring two desktops and one laptop computer for someone to game on. I don't want to do it, but I will if that means we'll get better participation I will. Chances are that you have a computer (laptop or desktop) that’s good enough to run Halo PC. After all, Halo PC came out in 2003; over 5 years ago. I think it will be easier logistically to LAN Halo PC than on console. BYOC.
The system requirements are relatively low compared to the computers most of you have today:
CPU: 733 MHz processor
RAM: 128 MB RAM
Video card: 32 MB T&L capable video card
Hdd space: 1.2 GB free hard drive space
Differences between Halo: PC and Halo: XBOX:
1) The fuel rod cannon spawns on some maps (above shotgun alley on Hang ‘Em High, middle of the map on Blood Gulch, for example). Flamethrower also available.
2) Minor geometry changes in the ditch in Hang ‘Em High and the windows of Battle Creek.
3) New maps: Timberland (Blood Gulch-sized map; great for Team Slayer, CTF, or Assault), Danger Canyon (perfect for Assault and CTF), Infinity (largest Halo map in the series; not good for anything but large CTF gametypes; yuck), Ice Fields (fun Sidewinder-sized CTF/Assault map; also good for TS), Gephyrophobia (another stupid Gearbox map that we won't touch) )and Death Island (large multilevel map for CTF).
4) New gametype: Assault (take the flag from your base to the enemies’ base; kind of like assault in Halo 3).
5) Halo: Custom Edition: see location markers for your teammates on the map. Also, custom content, which I'm near 100% sure we won't use.
6. Banshees available in multiplayer.
Tips:
1) Bring a headset. Noise pollution sucks. Avoid having to bring speakers. Just plug into your audio out and wear headphones (even your iPod ear buds). [If you have never played Halo (or any video game for that matter) with a pair of headphones I guarantee you will hear sounds that you’ve never heard in a game.]
2) If we get support, we’ll setup a Ventrillo voice chat so that teams can have voice comms. So, bring a $2 mic to plug up.
3) If you already have the game, install the latest updates.
4) Regardless of what your video card can handle, gaming Halo PC at a resolution near 800 x 600 seems best for reasons that are hard to explain in just a few paragraphs.
Will we play Halo: Custom Edition? Good question. I'll investigate and present my findings later.
You can try the demo to Halo: PC here: http://www.microsoft.com/games/halo/default.aspx
Also at that link you can read up on the game.
The game can be bought for $20 easily at most video game stores and online (like at Amazon). eBay and other places are selling the game for cheaper (near $10).
Disavowed, I believe, has found a way to install Halo PC on everyone's computer without the need to purchase the game.
Date and location for this event is TBD. However, I am considering having this event at my house in June.
Looking for support here.
Based on my conversations with you and Josh, I am completely down. It's really about the same equipment burden as a BYOS console LAN, and we can have 16 players in a game, each with his own screen, playing in hi-def. I love the idea. I'll support it however I can.
BTW, to reiterate, Disavowed says that when you play locally you are only required to have ONE licensed copy of the game. That means nobody is required to buy Halo PC. It's win-win.
I'm down.
I'll try to make it, wedding end of this month then honeymoon.. so if its late in June I have a good chance of making it.
As a person who has experience with using an Xbox controller with Halo PC; I'd really recommend against it. Without the autoaim from the Xbox version, the Halo PC shooters lag, and playing against people who are using a mouse, it is just a trifecta of suck.
If you're going to the lan and plan on using a 360 controller, think twice before doing so. It is worth a few hours of practice with a KB/M beforehand.
Don't trust Rapture either, he'd rather you use a 360 controller after all. Rapture is horrible and simply wants any advantage he can get.
@Celery: we'll definitely wait on your to return from your honeymoon.
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I've brought this up before, and think it's a great idea. I'm on it like white on rice.
As for the controller issue, I didn't notice any difference when playing through the campaign on my PC. Controller seemed just as accurate as when playing on the console. H1 never had that much auto-aim (compared to it's successors H2 and H3) to begin with, IMO. So, I'm a bit more optimistic about using them than JayWhy. But, I admittedly don't have any experience using a controller on H1 PC multiplayer. I may have to try it out between now and then just to find out.
Like Rapture, I have 3 total PCs (two desktops and a laptop) that are more than capable of running this game.
H2 gave hit % as a stat after the games. With the 360 controller, I was near 50%. With a kb/m I was near 40%. But, like Disavowed said, auto-aim in H2 was a lot greater than it was in H1. Still, it's noticeable and in that respect, controller users will have the advantage because of the software.
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Don't trust Disavowed, he is Rapture's agent. Use a KB/M.
If you don't believe my conspiracy theories, try browsing the web with a 360 controller; all of a sudden the back button feels like the size of a pinhead--sort of like the scope of Raptures Halo PC skills.
I will have to play with only the mouse just to make it fair for everyone else. I'm that nice of a guy.
If I can get HPC to run on my laptop then I might do it... I just don't want to drag my tower and crap around... especially since my tower PC is acting up. We'll see.
The guys and I LAN Age of Mythology on an irregular basis... speaking of which, I have a an itch to play some this weekend. We use laptops and it takes less set up and breakdown than Xbox 360s.
BTW, I wouldn't use a controller playing HPC... I'm pretty sure it would put you at a serious disadvantage. That said, it's been a while since I have played and FPS on PC, so I'll have to brush up on it.
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"Don't blow this, Gene!"
So you might come? It depends?
Dragging a tower + monitor + kb/m is not much different than a 360 + monitor/TV + controller. Same amount of equipment, just one particular component is bigger. And, what's even better is, Rap and I have spares. You supply a monitor and controller, we can provide a PC. Heck, between the two of us, we've got an entire extra setup, no equipment needed. Just bring yourself and a smile. Problem solved. See you at the LAN.
Matt, the date hasn't even been established, so yeah, I am tentative. You have a problem with that?
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"Don't blow this, Gene!"
No, I'm just making fun of your consistency.
Well, you're certainly demonstrating your consistency of being an annoying dick! Good job!
I won't be coming.
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"Don't blow this, Gene!"
I plan on coming to this!
And you're certainly demonstrating an improvement on shortening your essay-length comebacks! Good job!
"Oh my god, Fogell's rooming with Evan jeesh. Why don't you go cry about it?"
I might be game. So my computer running Vista at a 5.5 experience score can handle this?
OMGWTFLOL.
It's looks like this PC LAN will be a good lab to see just what happens.
Controller users are going to spawn in with the reticle at head-shot level. As long as they don't look up or down, that will always be the case. To me, that's a major advantage as a mouse user is going to be unable to be precise enough to keep the reticle at head-shot height.
And then there's the autoaim with the controller.
The mouse will be better at getting the shooter into the fight. But the controller is going to be better at staying in the fight. That was the case with Halo 2 PC, in my experiences.
I'm still trying to figure out when we can do this. I has such a blast playing this past weekend. It was a little hectic trying to find games and organize. Hopefully this won't be an issue with everyone on their own PC.
Rapture better not complain when I pawn him using a controller.
I spent a little time on Halo PC with a m/kb, and I don't like it. I don't have the close quarters movement that I'm used to with the controller. Moslty because my brain thinks controller and not kb/m.
Halo PC has no autoaim or stickiness with a controller or without. Are you thinking of Halo 2 PC?
Remembering back to my experience with a controller in Halo PC is I'd barely have a 1.5:1 kill to death ratio and could rarely scrounge up 20 kills in a typical Blood Gulch CTF game. Which might seem noteworthy for those who have never played Halo PC or for Rapture of course.
Should find a way to leave it open to the net so I can join up long distance :). I wouldn't mind teaching you nubblies how to play this game for real. :) Yes, that includes you too rapture! Don't think I don't remember how synide had to carry you guys to your CPL win! :).
You are right jay. I assumed that HPC had controller autoaim like H2V had.
Can I come? Microphones taste good.
Sure. BYOC. Live on 3.
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