Slashdot Log In
Halo 2 Only on Vista
Posted by
CmdrTaco
on Thu Feb 09, 2006 04:00 PM
from the lot-less-carnage dept.
from the lot-less-carnage dept.
iLogiK writes "Halo 2 will be available for PC, but only in Windows Vista. From the announcement: 'Halo 2 the game that redefined first-person combat and multiplayer action for millions of gamers worldwide, is set to explode onto PCs exclusively for Windows Vista. Halo 2 for Windows Vista will be developed by a dedicated Microsoft Game Studios team in partnership with Bungie Studios.'" That's one way to force upgrades. I thought just not releasing patches for the microsoft-worm-of-the-week would be enough ;)
Related Stories
[+]
Bungie Hiring PC Developers 73 comments
Gamespot reports that Halo-maker Bungie Studios is seeking PC developers for an unnamed project. From the article: "Taken in and of themselves, the listings are merely interesting. However, the wording of the graphics programmer job description has many positively convinced that Bungie is porting Halo 2 to the PC, in-house. 'This is an opportunity to influence the direction of Windows gaming technology in MGS [Microsoft Game Studios],' reads the post after first teasing, 'Want to work on the biggest franchises for Microsoft Game Studios?' Since becoming part of Microsoft Game Studios, Bungie has worked on only one franchise for the division--Halo."
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
I predict... (Score:5, Funny)
Coining a new term: (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Bootable Halo "Tech" DVD (Score:5, Insightful)
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if someone made a DVD ISO of a nice, bootable Windows Vista install, stripped out to the bare essentials like those various tech/maintenance CDs, complete with a functioning copy of the game ready to run. If they did it right then it'd not need to do much more than use the HD for swap and for save games.
Has Microsoft managed to finally get all of of the Windows 2000 holdouts to switch to XP yet? I know that they're business customers mainly, but if they're having trouble with them then I don't see them having a lot more success with Vista in the business environment either. 3/4 of the computers at my employer still run Windows 98 or 95...
Parent
Re:Bootable Halo "Tech" DVD (Score:5, Informative)
I'm an Ubuntu person myself... but when I have to use Windows (I.E. my clients), XP really isn't that bad (once you turn off all the crap). You just have to know where to turn it off. It's still 2k underneath!
Parent
Re:Bootable Halo "Tech" DVD (Score:4, Informative)
Start->Run 'msconfig'
Go to 'Services' tab
Un-check 'themes'
Save it and choose whether or not to re-start.
Blue stuff will be gone.
Parent
Re:I predict... (Score:4, Insightful)
They are using Halo 2 to make more users switch to Vista (and to upgrade hardware). I expect more and more games and other apps are going to be for Vista only.
You have an excellent sig btw...
Parent
I'll take that bet (Score:5, Insightful)
Wanna bet?
Halo was a decent enough FPS, but nothing spectacular. It looks like Halo 2 is the same. I'd consider buying it if it were available for my system, but I'm not going to spend my time and money upgrading my hardware and risking a whole new OS just to play one game.
If Microsoft restrict their games pointlessly to running on Vista, that just means their competitors in the gaming markets have a free run over everyone still using XP or earlier. I'll bet there are a lot more people like me than there are mad keen types who will buy the latest and greatest graphics card and upgrading their whole system just for one title that's worth a few hours of gameplay.
Parent
Re:I predict... (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
Wait... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Wait... (Score:5, Insightful)
Vista requires a certain level of 3d graphic card & cpu power... by limiting Halo 2's release to Vista, MS doesn't have to code the game to run on older hardware.
In short, they get to program for a more predictable hardware environment.
Or you could just boot Linux onto your Xbox 1, run windows Vista through an emulation, then play Halo 2.
Parent
Re:Wait... (Score:3, Funny)
You are kidding right? Right?
Yes, it does (Score:3, Informative)
Not only that, Direct3d 10 requires DirectX 10 capable hardware, non of which is currently available.
Re:Wait... (Score:5, Insightful)
It's going to be called Windows Graphics Framework (WGF). WGF will be released in Vista, and will not be backported.
WGF = What was going to be DX10 + Avalon + OpenGL Emulation + Other Goop
I do expect that Transgaming will implement it for Linux; soon Linux will be a very viable gaming platform.
Parent
What incentive? (Score:5, Insightful)
Cost to play Halo 2 on Windows Vista: A lot more than $200.00
Can't see this being any sort of incentive. Heck, I can't even see a big market for it.
Re:What incentive? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:What incentive? (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
Hype, nothing else (Score:5, Insightful)
I wish Bungie would come home! (Score:3)
Re:I wish Bungie would come home! (Score:5, Funny)
FOR SALE
Parent
Software reasons? (Score:3, Informative)
I remember reading that the 360 and Vista share similar software in the graphics system. In other words, MS was going to a "write once, play everywhere (that's from MS)" architecture so developers wouldn't have to do a lot of converting. It sounds like this is fallout from that, not some evil marketing plot to make people buy Vista to play a game.
Re:Software reasons? (Score:5, Informative)
Parent
Marketing, marketing (Score:3)
Expect more Vista only over the next year, you ain't seen nothing yet.
Not to worry.... (Score:5, Funny)
:-)
Vista on Wine (Score:3, Interesting)
Truely, I found that my soundcard driver and various other thing would hard-lock my system in XP... very annoying when you're in the middle of a game. Most of the windows games I run play nicely on Wine/Cedega, some even better (as in the case of my laptop, where the video driver will not update in windows).
If Cedega gains more support for newer games, all the more reason for me to stick with it and/or linux. XP is bad enough, I certainly wouldn't want to upgrade to vista just to play a few newer games.
a-holes (Score:3, Insightful)
Halo redefines the FPS clone...? (Score:5, Insightful)
I always thought anyone who really found the Halo's to be truely revolutionary has never played an FPS on a computer -- there really wasn't anything unique about the game. The rendering engine was at best on par with other games of its time, and the control was less than average (I'm a keyboard and mouse guy). Story isn't terribly important when it comes to player vs player. So if it can only be played on Vista, why does anyone really care? It's an old game that wasn't anything special to begin with.
Talk about false advertising. (Score:4, Interesting)
nice one xbox.com (Score:4, Funny)
I think we've all learned what to expect from a year-late ports of mediocre games.
and what exactly is it that halo2 will require that xp can't provide? is the engine more demanding than doom3 or source?
thanks for selling out, again, bungie...
My theory... (Score:5, Insightful)
XBox Live on Windows Vista (Score:4, Interesting)
Notice, btw, how they're reinforcing their overall position by leveraging their two platforms in tandem. When some people say cross-platform they're thinking Windows/Mac/Linux. When other people say cross-platform, they're thinking PC/Console. Microsoft is creating an enticing proposition for the content developers.
Re:Why even bother? (Score:5, Informative)
Not true, I had to up to XP to play EQ2
Parent
Re:Why even bother? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Why even bother? (Score:5, Insightful)
Well if you upgraded OSes just to play one game, you are a nerd, and/or pirated the OS. A common mistake a nerd/pirate makes here is thinking the average consumer is anything like one. Nobody in all seriousness is gonna upgrade OSes to play a game.
Parent
Re:Why even bother? (Score:3, Interesting)
According to this page [eq2online.com], not unless you were using Windows 95. EQ II supports 98/2000/ME/XP. And if you were running Windows 95 in 2004, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?
And I laugh at some of these new games that "require" Windows XP...funny, they run on Windows 2000 fine. I'm playing Battlefield 2 (XP only), and Fable: the Lost Chapters (XP only) with no more issues than any of the XP users are experiencing.
Me, I just swore to avoid Windows XP because it doesn't offer much over
Re:Why even bother? (Score:5, Interesting)
Actually this is a sad myth in the Windows world, a lot did change with WindowsXP, stuff that would be important to almost everyuser, and from your level of knowledge especially you.
Things from several fairly big performance, but also stability changes are in WindowsXP, and were worth the upgrade, sorry that you didn't ever move over. However at this point, I agree you should just wait for Vista if XP would cost you to upgrade in the meantime.
However for people that think XP is only Win2K with crayon buttons, do a bit of reading, there are things that would surprised a lot of people.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/01/12/XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/driver/kernel/xp_ke
Win2k was a massive milestone in the Windows world, so XP got overlooked, and this is where you will note a lot of things that the 'average' journalist just don't get or didn't understand well enough to report on. Also remember than WindowsXP is basically the newer Windows 2003 Server code base, (as long as you have SP2 installed).
PS To add to the above thread about Halo2 being used to FORCE users to upgrade to Vista, that is about insane. If that was MS's intent then the WPF and all the other Vista technologies they are making available for XP would not be available for XP users. Why would Microsoft bother?
Secondly, Bungie is the developer of Halo2, they actually make the decisions on the platform and graphics requirements, Microsoft doesn't micro manage their work.
So all the people with the conspiracies need to get a life.
Take Care,
TheNetAvenger
Parent
Re:Why even bother? (Score:5, Insightful)
Why is everyone so up-in-arms about the DRM in Vista? I havn't been impressed with the DRM-protected offerings in 2000/XP, so it's not like I'll be missing out on much.
I don't plan on watching HD-DVDs on my PC, or for-pay HD movies, so the requirement of HDMI for full-resolution doesn't affect me. I've seen what HD looks like on my 19" monitor, and it is not that impressive. I did play DVDs on my computer back in the 90s, but this was back when standalone players cost much more than DVD-ROM drives. I have no desire to reprchase my entire DVD collection just to get a marginal quality improvement.
Please keep in mind, NON-DRM VIDEO WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THIS REQUIREMENT. I can still look forward to downloading all the free xvid HD rips I want, and play them back on VLC at full resolution...should I be so inclined.
I don't plan on watching HDTV on this box. I don't plan on listening to DRM-encumbered formats like DVD Audio or SACD on this PC. I don't plan on doing anything remotely attached to DRM.
So, pray tell, could you point out where the DRM in Windows Vista actually affects me?
Parent
Re:Why even bother? (Score:5, Interesting)
Anyone gonna release a 'compatibility patch' for H2 after it comes out? :)
Parent
Re:Why even bother? (Score:3, Informative)
That's one of the big reasons that MS isn't supporting the mouse for the 360...PC gamers would dominate the online play while console-only gamers with their gamepads would be wondering how the other guy moves so fast (and probably screaming H
Re:Why even bother? (Score:5, Informative)
What happens right now is that if you dont have a hardware accelerated driver for OpenGL installed, windows will use a 100% software OpenGL implementation (which implements pretty much no extentions or recent GL features).
On Vista, the software implementation will be replaced with an implementation that implements more of the core GL features and extentions but does it on top of Direct3D.
In both cases, if you install the drivers from NVIDIA or ATI or whoever, you will still get full hardware accelerated OpenGL with all the extentions your vendor has chosen to provide. But, on Vista, using that will disable some of the 3D Accelerated Aeroglass UI crap.
Even more to the point, the display vendors say it should be possible to build a driver that can handle both the Aeroglass UI AND OpenGL at the same time.
Parent
Re:Why even bother? (Score:5, Insightful)
Second I would like to know exactly what Halo brought to the gaming market that "redefined first-person combat and multiplayer action..." Other than awesome marketing.
Parent
Re:Why even bother? (Score:5, Funny)
Limited turn speeds, large rings which don't affect gameplay, and duh.. Master Chief.
But really, for the first 30 minutes of the game, I thought those little aliens were on my side. I mean, they looked cute and harmless, they made cute little noises, and since they weren't shooting me, I thought they were providing cover fire for.
Parent
Re:Why even bother? (Score:5, Insightful)
Had this conversation with a couple friends of mine and I think we finally hit on something. We're all approaching 30. We cut our teeth on Wolfenstein 3D, and stepped up to Doom and all that. How many nights were we up all night deathmatching? Too many to count. Doom was the greatest game of all time for us. We couldn't stop thinking about what we could do in that game and what would be possible if this or that would change and what maps were being made and wouldn't it be cool if there were a mod that did "x".
And that is our frame of reference. Quake brought us into three dimensions and from there on out it's been incremental improvements. To us, Halo is just more of the same.
But then you get a new generation of kids. The same basic stuff appeals to them now that appealed to us back then. Now they have an xbox and live (which makes the whole deathmatch thing much easier than anything on the ps2 or the gcn) and they absolutely love running around shooting their friends and getting shot by their friends and swearing like sailors and ta-da... you've got the new thing.
If you could strap them into a chair and force them to play through the same evolution of experience my age group has had, they'd see it's nothing new. But that's not going to happen and to them Halo is the most amazing game experience ever.
And then you've got people that are my age that just didn't give two shits about computers when my friends and I were playing Doom. Now they have an xbox and it's an entirely new experience for them as well.
Is it an experience I'm interested in? Hell, no. The level design is generally lacking and I don't find the balance of weapons and such to be all that attractive. But I don't stand there and complain and wonder why this game is so popular. It's the first time that lots of the current gaming audience has encountered such a thing. Of course they're impressed.
Parent
Re:Why even bother? (Score:5, Funny)
What do you mean... didn't you read the article? This is the game that redefined first-person combat and multiplayer action for millions of gamers worldwide! How much better can you get??
Parent
Re:Why even bother? (Score:3, Insightful)
"Whats the point of this?"
The point of everything that Microsoft (and most companies) does is to make money.
"First off, anyone who wanted Halo 2 has it for Xbox."
The long-delayed arrival of the original Halo on the Windows platform was a big deal. It did pretty good business. A similar argument -- "anybody who wants Halo already has it for XBox" -- would not have proved accurate.
"Secondly, Halo isn't that good a game- it got a big name as a great Xbox game because Xbox had jack shit else to p
Re:Why even bother? (Score:5, Insightful)
Halo 2 is already old. By the time it is actually released on PC (relatively) few people will care.
Parent
Re:Vertical monopoly (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I'm not going to Vista, I swear (Score:3, Interesting)
I have my concerns that Vista is going to be the next ME. I seriously doubt it, but I wouldn't put it past the boys at Redmond to hand us another debacle. So, I'm going to wait 6 months before I even consider upgrading.
I'm not buying a Mac, though. I like my games too much
Re:I'm not going to Vista, I swear (Score:5, Funny)
Speech fails me.
Parent
Re:My Gaming Rig Is Windows Anyway (Score:5, Informative)
If you want to watch any commercial video that is "hi-def" in full resolution, you must have an HDCP-compliant monitor. No exceptions.
If you do not have an HDCP-compliant monitor, you are at the mercy of whoever created the video. If they are generous, then they will instruct the codec to downsample the video to at least DVD-quality, if not lower. If they are assholes, they will flat-out prevent the video from playing.
These limitations are absolutely 0% technical.
It seems stupid, but it's all part of plugging every single hole they can find. It works together with the "Trusted Computing" requirements (encrypted and obscured I/O and memory) that are continually on the verge of being brought into force.
Parent
Re:1 Week (Score:3, Interesting)