Bungie Reveals HALO 2 Release date!

[Stark]

What little I've seen of Halo 2 suggests that its far better graphics-wise than Halo... and that makes me wonder what corners they're cutting. XBOX is off the shelf stuff; its not custom like GC or PS2 (thats my understanding). Where are they squeezing the extra performance from? Its a Geforce 3 and a bit, if there was secret hidden power the overclockers would have found it by now

[Icehawk]

What little I've seen of Halo 2 suggests that its far better graphics-wise than Halo... and that makes me wonder what corners they're cutting. XBOX is off the shelf stuff; its not custom like GC or PS2 (thats my understanding). Where are they squeezing the extra performance from? Its a Geforce 3 and a bit, if there was secret hidden power the overclockers would have found it by now

Actually, the main nvidia graphics system they use is a customized set (its not just a generic GeForce 3 by any means.) For Halo 2 they are going absolutely overboard with the Bump Mapping. For Halo 1 they added in bits and pieces of Bump mapping just as an extra bit before they shipped the game out but now they are actually utillizing it fully from the ground up.

I read in an article for EGM magazine awhile back that the new Master Chief actually has less overall polygons now than the first one, but he is absolutely tripped out with massive bump mapping which is why he looks so amazing. However, even though its less overall polygons for the model, they still gave him individual fingers and bending feet which the Halo 1 model doesnt have.

[Gandalf]

The multiplayer of this will have bots right?

And is there any word on if we will have old levels like Blood Gulch?

[Rogue 9]

Blood Gulch is my favorite level of all time! One of two where you can get vehicles and Sidewinder is just too big.

[Gandalf]

Blood Gulch is my favorite level of all time! One of two where you can get vehicles and Sidewinder is just too big.

Same.

After seeing Red vs Blue, does anyone still call it the Warthog?