I'm doing a Tour of Duty style LP for Halo 1's fan remake, Single Player Version 3, inspired by Viking Boy Billy's coverage of Halo 1 on the Story Page back in 2014 or 2015. Currently it's both the Part 0 Prologue and Part 1 covering the first level.
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72508
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72509
If you don't mind spoilers, you can also check out the Primers for the two above in case you need filled in on the events leading up to Halo 1:
Circle 1: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72492
Circle 2: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72493
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72494
Circle 3: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72495
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72496
I aim to start Part 2 tomorrow at time of writing, technically later today as it's 4:12AM GMT.
Halo SPV3 Tour of Duty style LP now started on Story Page
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Lion O Cyborg
- Cyborg
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Jun 22nd '18, 19:00
- Location: UK (which is IN EUROPE!)
Hi. I'm currently taking a break from the Story Forum to improve myself, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy Marathon/Bungie wise: The Halo SPV3 tour has still been getting written among playing Build Engine games, Shadow on Xbox and doing some non-game related stuff. Stages 1 to 6 are done but 4-6 are timed exclusives to my log for the time being. The later parts may be too depending on when I start writing The Library.
Here's all the parts that are done so far:
Primer
Circle 1: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72492
Circle 2: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72493
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72494
Circle 3: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72495
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72496
Main Tour
Stage 0: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72508
Stage 1: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72509
Stage 2: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72518
Stage 3: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72519
Stage 4: https://lion-o-cyborg-iii.tumblr.com/po ... v3-stage-4
Stage 5: https://lion-o-cyborg-iii.tumblr.com/po ... v3-stage-5
Stage 6: https://lion-o-cyborg-iii.tumblr.com/po ... v3-stage-6
I will try to remember to update this thread with Stage 7 onward as well. I might cover the differences in Legendary too, if I get enough practice at SPV3 and/or can sum up the courage to play it on that difficulty again.
Here's all the parts that are done so far:
Primer
Circle 1: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72492
Circle 2: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72493
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72494
Circle 3: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72495
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72496
Main Tour
Stage 0: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72508
Stage 1: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72509
Stage 2: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72518
Stage 3: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72519
Stage 4: https://lion-o-cyborg-iii.tumblr.com/po ... v3-stage-4
Stage 5: https://lion-o-cyborg-iii.tumblr.com/po ... v3-stage-5
Stage 6: https://lion-o-cyborg-iii.tumblr.com/po ... v3-stage-6
I will try to remember to update this thread with Stage 7 onward as well. I might cover the differences in Legendary too, if I get enough practice at SPV3 and/or can sum up the courage to play it on that difficulty again.
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Lion O Cyborg
- Cyborg
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Jun 22nd '18, 19:00
- Location: UK (which is IN EUROPE!)
Update on SPV3 Tour: The Library is now being written at the moment. I will edit this reply with the link when it's done and I might post the link for Two Betrayals as a new reply alongside Keyes.
Side note: I've also been playing Tempus Irae again and making more of an effort to complete it this time. I'm enjoying it so far and I look forward to Towel Boy specifically as I love swimming pools/bath houses. I intend to play the latest build of Redux and Marathon Evil after that, but I'll need to play the latter on Normal instead of TC like Tempus as Evil is a bit too hard even on Major Damage. From what I've seen of the newer Redux so far, it looks good.
Side note: I've also been playing Tempus Irae again and making more of an effort to complete it this time. I'm enjoying it so far and I look forward to Towel Boy specifically as I love swimming pools/bath houses. I intend to play the latest build of Redux and Marathon Evil after that, but I'll need to play the latter on Normal instead of TC like Tempus as Evil is a bit too hard even on Major Damage. From what I've seen of the newer Redux so far, it looks good.
FYI, you picked a rather bad time to replay Tempus Irae; a new version literally just started development a week or two ago (as far as I’m aware). I’d hold off until it’s done, because the graphical improvements will be a thing to behold.
Preview of updated switch texture:
Preview of bump maps in-game (caveat: only one of the HD textures is yet implemented here):
I think, even in embryonic form, these results speak for themselves.
I dunno how long the new release will take to complete, but I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait. I kind of doubt it’ll be as long-delayed as the many Eternal re-releases have been, though – since the textures were mostly made from 3D surfaces to begin with, the normal maps can be generated easily, so it’s probably just glow maps and animated textures that will require a substantial amount of work. Though JHT and Borzz may decide they want to edit some of the maps, too, in which case it may be a few more months.
Preview of updated switch texture:
I dunno how long the new release will take to complete, but I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait. I kind of doubt it’ll be as long-delayed as the many Eternal re-releases have been, though – since the textures were mostly made from 3D surfaces to begin with, the normal maps can be generated easily, so it’s probably just glow maps and animated textures that will require a substantial amount of work. Though JHT and Borzz may decide they want to edit some of the maps, too, in which case it may be a few more months.
“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” —V, V for Vendetta (Alan Moore)
“The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid. Only pain is intellectual, only evil interesting. This is the treason of the artist: a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain. If you can’t lick ’em, join ’em. If it hurts, repeat it. But to praise despair is to condemn delight, to embrace violence is to lose hold of everything else. We have almost lost hold; we can no longer describe happy man, nor make any celebration of joy.” —Ursula K. Le Guin, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”
“If others had not been foolish, we should be so.” —William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
“The law cannot protect anyone unless it binds everyone; and it cannot bind anyone unless it protects everyone.” —Frank Wilhoit
Last.fm · Marathon Chronicles · Marathon Eternal 1.2 · Where Monsters Are in Dreams · YouTube Vidmaster’s Challenge
“The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid. Only pain is intellectual, only evil interesting. This is the treason of the artist: a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain. If you can’t lick ’em, join ’em. If it hurts, repeat it. But to praise despair is to condemn delight, to embrace violence is to lose hold of everything else. We have almost lost hold; we can no longer describe happy man, nor make any celebration of joy.” —Ursula K. Le Guin, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”
“If others had not been foolish, we should be so.” —William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
“The law cannot protect anyone unless it binds everyone; and it cannot bind anyone unless it protects everyone.” —Frank Wilhoit
Last.fm · Marathon Chronicles · Marathon Eternal 1.2 · Where Monsters Are in Dreams · YouTube Vidmaster’s Challenge
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Lion O Cyborg
- Cyborg
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Jun 22nd '18, 19:00
- Location: UK (which is IN EUROPE!)
I see. I wasn't aware of the new version though I don't mind playing it twice as I saw the Rampancy LP of the current build back in 2014 or 2015 so nothing's spoiled. Same with Eternal X; I finished replaying the 1.1 build before starting the Tour of Duty for Eternal X 1.2.The Man wrote:FYI, you picked a rather bad time to replay Tempus Irae; a new version literally just started development a week or two ago (as far as I’m aware). I’d hold off until it’s done, because the graphical improvements will be a thing to behold.
Preview of updated switch texture:
Preview of bump maps in-game (caveat: only one of the HD textures is yet implemented here):
I think, even in embryonic form, these results speak for themselves.
I dunno how long the new release will take to complete, but I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait. I kind of doubt it’ll be as long-delayed as the many Eternal re-releases have been, though – since the textures were mostly made from 3D surfaces to begin with, the normal maps can be generated easily, so it’s probably just glow maps and animated textures that will require a substantial amount of work. Though JHT and Borzz may decide they want to edit some of the maps, too, in which case it may be a few more months.
Will the lost levels get similar treatment?
Well, it just started, and there haven't been any formal announcements, but it's been a topic of discussion on the subreddit and especially the Discord. I'm not sure yet if the plans include a total map revamp or if the map files will be left intact, as was the case with the last overhaul. I don't even know if that's been decided yet. I suspect Borzz and JHT just want to get all the updated graphics working first. Current plans, as far as I can tell, are at minimum for all textures to be increased to 512 x 512 pixels² with bump maps, glow maps where applicable, and some animated textures; and the sounds will in all likelihood also be remastered, since I'd already remastered 90% of them for Chronicles anyhow. (The only sounds I hadn't gotten to were the ones for the secret final level, and I've only got about an hour of work left to finish those as well.)
It's also possible there could end up being at least minor changes to some levels to accommodate new scripting capabilities of the engine (fog, rain, various gameplay changes that weren't possible in 1997, etc.), although this would break film compatibility with older versions. And for all I know, JHT and Borzz may just decide to go all-out and change some things about the maps that they're not too satisfied with. If they decide to go the latter route, then The Lost Levels might be held off for a later date.
However, any map developed for Tempus would be able to work with the new graphics and so on without needing to be changed, so nothing special would need to be done in such a case for TLL to function in the new version. I suspect JHT and Borzz will probably want to arrange things so that the gameplay of the old map files will be unaffected in the new version so that people can still play back films created on those old maps -- the films section on their website is a big giveaway here -- so if TLL ends up delayed, people could always just use the old map file until the new one comes out.
But this is all speculation -- I have no idea whether they're going to make new map files or not. It's entirely possible they'll just update the graphics and sounds and leave it at that. I've just been helping a bit with scripting and sounds -- it's not my decision in the end.
It's also possible there could end up being at least minor changes to some levels to accommodate new scripting capabilities of the engine (fog, rain, various gameplay changes that weren't possible in 1997, etc.), although this would break film compatibility with older versions. And for all I know, JHT and Borzz may just decide to go all-out and change some things about the maps that they're not too satisfied with. If they decide to go the latter route, then The Lost Levels might be held off for a later date.
However, any map developed for Tempus would be able to work with the new graphics and so on without needing to be changed, so nothing special would need to be done in such a case for TLL to function in the new version. I suspect JHT and Borzz will probably want to arrange things so that the gameplay of the old map files will be unaffected in the new version so that people can still play back films created on those old maps -- the films section on their website is a big giveaway here -- so if TLL ends up delayed, people could always just use the old map file until the new one comes out.
But this is all speculation -- I have no idea whether they're going to make new map files or not. It's entirely possible they'll just update the graphics and sounds and leave it at that. I've just been helping a bit with scripting and sounds -- it's not my decision in the end.
“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” —V, V for Vendetta (Alan Moore)
“The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid. Only pain is intellectual, only evil interesting. This is the treason of the artist: a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain. If you can’t lick ’em, join ’em. If it hurts, repeat it. But to praise despair is to condemn delight, to embrace violence is to lose hold of everything else. We have almost lost hold; we can no longer describe happy man, nor make any celebration of joy.” —Ursula K. Le Guin, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”
“If others had not been foolish, we should be so.” —William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
“The law cannot protect anyone unless it binds everyone; and it cannot bind anyone unless it protects everyone.” —Frank Wilhoit
Last.fm · Marathon Chronicles · Marathon Eternal 1.2 · Where Monsters Are in Dreams · YouTube Vidmaster’s Challenge
“The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid. Only pain is intellectual, only evil interesting. This is the treason of the artist: a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain. If you can’t lick ’em, join ’em. If it hurts, repeat it. But to praise despair is to condemn delight, to embrace violence is to lose hold of everything else. We have almost lost hold; we can no longer describe happy man, nor make any celebration of joy.” —Ursula K. Le Guin, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”
“If others had not been foolish, we should be so.” —William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
“The law cannot protect anyone unless it binds everyone; and it cannot bind anyone unless it protects everyone.” —Frank Wilhoit
Last.fm · Marathon Chronicles · Marathon Eternal 1.2 · Where Monsters Are in Dreams · YouTube Vidmaster’s Challenge
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Lion O Cyborg
- Cyborg
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Jun 22nd '18, 19:00
- Location: UK (which is IN EUROPE!)
Slight change of plans: I decided to finish Two Betrayals as well and post them together. I will be adding Stages 4-8 to the Story Page in due time.
Once I've taken a short break from Halo, I'll get started on writing Keyes. There's also 2 new levels added in SPV3.2 that both the original game and SPV3.1 don't have. They are best described as Two Betrayals versions of Halo and The Silent Cartographer, and in the latter you play as the Arbiter before he becomes the Arbiter.
Stage 7: https://lion-o-cyborg-iii.tumblr.com/po ... v3-stage-7
Stage 8: https://lion-o-cyborg-iii.tumblr.com/po ... v3-stage-8
Once I've taken a short break from Halo, I'll get started on writing Keyes. There's also 2 new levels added in SPV3.2 that both the original game and SPV3.1 don't have. They are best described as Two Betrayals versions of Halo and The Silent Cartographer, and in the latter you play as the Arbiter before he becomes the Arbiter.
Stage 7: https://lion-o-cyborg-iii.tumblr.com/po ... v3-stage-7
Stage 8: https://lion-o-cyborg-iii.tumblr.com/po ... v3-stage-8
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Lion O Cyborg
- Cyborg
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Jun 22nd '18, 19:00
- Location: UK (which is IN EUROPE!)
All parts of the SPV3 Tour of Duty are now on the Story Forum:
Primer
Circle 1: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72492
Circle 2: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72493
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72494
Circle 3: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72495
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72496
Main Tour
Stage 0: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72508
Stage 1: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72509
Stage 2: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72518
Stage 3: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72519
Stage 4: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72619
Stage 5: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72620
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72621
Stage 6: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72622
Stage 7: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72623
Stage 8: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72624
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72625
I'm taking another break from Halo but after that I will start on Keyes. There's also the brand new levels in SPV3 before the Maw after that.
Primer
Circle 1: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72492
Circle 2: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72493
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72494
Circle 3: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72495
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72496
Main Tour
Stage 0: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72508
Stage 1: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72509
Stage 2: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72518
Stage 3: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72519
Stage 4: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72619
Stage 5: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72620
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72621
Stage 6: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72622
Stage 7: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72623
Stage 8: http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72624
http://forums.bungie.org/story/?noframes;read=72625
I'm taking another break from Halo but after that I will start on Keyes. There's also the brand new levels in SPV3 before the Maw after that.