Cut Halo 4 levels: Difference between revisions
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
BaconShelf (talk | contribs) m (→Dish) |
BaconShelf (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Era|RW}} | {{Era|RW}} | ||
During the development of ''[[Halo 4]]'', company [https://www.digitalextremes.com/ Digital Extremes] | During the development of ''[[Halo 4]]'', a number of maps were concepted and partially-developed though cut from the game for various reasons. Many of these maps were concepted by company [https://www.digitalextremes.com/ Digital Extremes], contracted by [[343 Industries]] to help with the production of the game's [[Downloadable content|DLC]] map packs. A number of map ideas and concepts were pitched to 343 but went unused, and have since been released online. | ||
==Multiplayer maps== | |||
===Dish=== | ===Dish=== | ||
An original map design developed by [[Certain Affinity]] and referred to as "Dish" can be found in the tags build. The map takes the form of a long canyon, with multiple levels. The map is complete with vehicle and turret spawns, alongside respawn points for players - though appears not to have progressed beyond the early blockout stages. Interestingly, this map contains spawn points for the [[Cut Halo 4 vehicles#Revenant|Revenant]] design which was intended to appear in the game.{{Ref/Twitter|___Gal4xy___|1433227327622860805|Galaxy|Here's a look at a cut MP map by Certain Affinity simply called "Dish". This map is one of my favorite cut MP maps. It's complete with full vehicle spawns and turret placements, etc. The map is in a rough block out state, which suggests it was cut early on in development.|D=04|M=9|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Twitter|___Gal4xy___|1433227748705771526|Galaxy|Interestingly, the Revenant (A cut returning vehicle from Halo 4) has spawn points for the map, suggesting that the map was made before the Revenant was scrapped from the game.|D=04|M=9|Y=2021}} The relatively late cutting of the Revenant from the game indicates that Dish may have been in development relatively late in ''Halo 4''{{'}}s [[Development of Halo 4|development cycle]]. | An original map design developed by [[Certain Affinity]] and referred to as "Dish" can be found in the tags build. The map takes the form of a long canyon, with multiple levels. The map is complete with vehicle and turret spawns, alongside respawn points for players - though appears not to have progressed beyond the early blockout stages. Interestingly, this map contains spawn points for the [[Cut Halo 4 vehicles#Revenant|Revenant]] design which was intended to appear in the game.{{Ref/Twitter|___Gal4xy___|1433227327622860805|Galaxy|Here's a look at a cut MP map by Certain Affinity simply called "Dish". This map is one of my favorite cut MP maps. It's complete with full vehicle spawns and turret placements, etc. The map is in a rough block out state, which suggests it was cut early on in development.|D=04|M=9|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Twitter|___Gal4xy___|1433227748705771526|Galaxy|Interestingly, the Revenant (A cut returning vehicle from Halo 4) has spawn points for the map, suggesting that the map was made before the Revenant was scrapped from the game.|D=04|M=9|Y=2021}} The relatively late cutting of the Revenant from the game indicates that Dish may have been in development relatively late in ''Halo 4''{{'}}s [[Development of Halo 4|development cycle]]. | ||
| Line 18: | Line 11: | ||
File:H4 Dish Screenshot 3.jpg|A screenshot of the map. | File:H4 Dish Screenshot 3.jpg|A screenshot of the map. | ||
File:H4 Dish Revenant.jpg|The Revenant on Dish. | File:H4 Dish Revenant.jpg|The Revenant on Dish. | ||
</gallery> | |||
==DLC maps== | |||
===Arrowhead=== | |||
"Arrowhead" was one potential DLC map concepted, and evidently would have taken place in or around a [[UNSC]] facility embedded in a cliffside, though no other details are known.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.artstation.com/artwork/0aO1Y|Site=Artstation|Page=HALO - Arrowhead}} | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:H4 Arrowhead Concept 1.jpg|Concept art of Arrowhead. | |||
File:H4 Arrowhead Concept 2.jpg|Sketches of the UNSC cliffside facility. | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 85: | Line 86: | ||
File:H4 PillarDLC Concept.jpg|Concept art of a pillar for a cut map. | File:H4 PillarDLC Concept.jpg|Concept art of a pillar for a cut map. | ||
File:H4 GeneratorDLC Concept.jpg|Concept art of a generator for a cut map. | File:H4 GeneratorDLC Concept.jpg|Concept art of a generator for a cut map. | ||
</gallery> | |||
==Development and testing levels== | |||
<!-- useful videos | |||
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKyLmFBK8qQ | |||
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6b2No45cbo | |||
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlOsq9ypPOU | |||
--> | |||
===Sandtrap=== | |||
While never considered for official inclusion in the final game, the ''Halo 3'' multiplayer map [[Sandtrap]] was used in development for testing the vehicle sandbox of ''Halo 4''.{{Ref/Twitter|___Gal4xy___|1431671182772908033|Galaxy|Quote=A shame they never considered releasing Sandtrap as an official map for Halo 4, But it is neat to know that they used it to test out the vehicle sandbox during development.|D=04|M=9|Y=2021}} | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:H4 Sandtrap.png|Sandtrap in the ''Halo 4'' tags build. | |||
</gallery> | |||
==="Stripy room"=== | |||
First referred to as such in the ''[[Halo: Reach Legendary Edition]]'' developer commentary by [[Martin O'Donnell]], the so-called "Stripey Room" or <code>sound.map</code> is an audio testing level utilised by [[Bungie]] throughout the production of ''Halo 3'' through ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', and 343 Industries during the production of ''Halo 4''. The map is almost identical to its ''Reach'' incarnation, with the exception of labelled terrain types and water.{{Ref/YouTube|p5hVU0rAhw8|Galaxy|Exploring the "Stripy Room" sound & material test map (Halo: Builds & Cut Content)|D=04|M=9|Y=2021}} | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:H4 StripeyRoom.png|A screenshot of the level. | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 08:07, September 4, 2021
During the development of Halo 4, a number of maps were concepted and partially-developed though cut from the game for various reasons. Many of these maps were concepted by company Digital Extremes, contracted by 343 Industries to help with the production of the game's DLC map packs. A number of map ideas and concepts were pitched to 343 but went unused, and have since been released online.
Multiplayer maps
Dish
An original map design developed by Certain Affinity and referred to as "Dish" can be found in the tags build. The map takes the form of a long canyon, with multiple levels. The map is complete with vehicle and turret spawns, alongside respawn points for players - though appears not to have progressed beyond the early blockout stages. Interestingly, this map contains spawn points for the Revenant design which was intended to appear in the game.[1][2] The relatively late cutting of the Revenant from the game indicates that Dish may have been in development relatively late in Halo 4's development cycle.
A top-down look at the layout of Dish.
A screenshot of the map - note the presence of the Revenant at the bottom.
A screenshot of the map.
A screenshot of the map.
The Revenant on Dish.
DLC maps
Arrowhead
"Arrowhead" was one potential DLC map concepted, and evidently would have taken place in or around a UNSC facility embedded in a cliffside, though no other details are known.[3]
Concept art of Arrowhead.
Sketches of the UNSC cliffside facility.
Covenant underwater technology
This potential DLC map was designed to focus on underwater Covenant technology.[4]
Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.
Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.
Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.
Genessis
Identified in a series of concept art uploads all titled genessis, this map has a similar theme to the release map Vortex, set in a crashed Forerunner ship in a desert wasteland, turned into a makeshift base by the UNSC. In the distance, a Forerunner Keyship can be seen.[5] It is unknown if this pitch has any relation to the planet Genesis featured in Halo 5: Guardians.
Concept art for this map featuring a Keyship.
Last Resort remake
- Main article: Last Resort
One map concept shown involves a paintover of the sniper tower area of the Halo 3 map Last Resort. Its filename, lastr-paintover, suggests it was intended to be a Last Resort remake.[6] Notably, the map was later realised in Halo 2: Anniversary's multiplayer as Stonetown.
The only concept art released of this map.
Narrows remake
- Main article: Narrows
One concept pitched to 343[7] involved a remake of the Halo 3 multiplayer map Narrows, redressed in a human architectural aesthetic.[8][9][10]
Concept of one of the bases, reimagined as a hangar for Pelican dropships.
Concept art for the 'underpass' segment of the map, under the main bridge.
A sketch of the underpass section.
Structural study of a UNSC-themed Narrows remake.
More structural study.
Painted concept art of the base at one end of the bridge.
Another concept of the base.
Concept art of the side of the base areas, where a gravity lift would be.
Concept art of the bridge area of the map.
ONI Bog
Concept art for the map suggests it would have had a similar theme and tone to the map Abandon, though it is unknown if the two maps are one and the same, or simply similar.[11][12][13]
Concept art.
Concept art.
Structural study for the base.
Standoff remake
Present in the Halo 4 tags build, this map was in development by Creative Assembly. The map was a remake of Halo 3's Heroic map Standoff.[14]
A screenshot of the Standoff remake.
A screenshot of the Standoff remake.
A screenshot of the Standoff remake.
A screenshot of the Standoff remake.
Other DLC map concepts
Some callout sheets for individual map props have been posted online, of which tie to no particular known map.
Concept art for a map which would have had players fight beneath a large railgun.
Concept art of a pillar for a cut map.
Concept art of a generator for a cut map.
Development and testing levels
Sandtrap
While never considered for official inclusion in the final game, the Halo 3 multiplayer map Sandtrap was used in development for testing the vehicle sandbox of Halo 4.[15]
Sandtrap in the Halo 4 tags build.
"Stripy room"
First referred to as such in the Halo: Reach Legendary Edition developer commentary by Martin O'Donnell, the so-called "Stripey Room" or sound.map is an audio testing level utilised by Bungie throughout the production of Halo 3 through Halo: Reach, and 343 Industries during the production of Halo 4. The map is almost identical to its Reach incarnation, with the exception of labelled terrain types and water.[16]
A screenshot of the level.
Sources
- ^ Twitter, Galaxy (@___Gal4xy___) (Retrieved on Sep 4, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Twitter, Galaxy (@___Gal4xy___) (Retrieved on Sep 4, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Artstation, HALO - Arrowhead (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Artstation, Halo 4 - Aquatic Covenant: "Random vis dev experiments for potential Halo 4 DLC environments. Toyed around with some ideas for undersea Covenant vessels. Ultimately unused, but sure was fun!" (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Artstation, Halo 4 (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Artstation, Halo 4 - DLC (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Deviant Art, Halo 4: DLC Bridge Lower Level Concept: "This only went as far as a pitch to 343." (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ ArtStation, HALO - Narrows reimagined structural studies: "Narrows (a HALO 3 favourite) reimagined for an unfortunately unrealized HALO 4 multiplayer DLC." (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ ArtStation, HALO - Narrows reimagined under-pass (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ ArtStation, HALO - Narrows reimagined hangar interior (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ ArtStation, HALO 4 - Oni Bog (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ ArtStation, HALO 4 - Oni Bog 02 (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ ArtStation, HALO 4 - Oni Bog Structure Studies (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Twitter, Galaxy (@___Gal4xy___): "Fun Fact: The map Standoff from Halo 3 was going to be a DLC map for Halo 4 by Certain Affinity, but it was cut for currently unknown reasons" (Retrieved on Aug 25, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Twitter, Galaxy (@___Gal4xy___): "A shame they never considered releasing Sandtrap as an official map for Halo 4, But it is neat to know that they used it to test out the vehicle sandbox during development." (Retrieved on Sep 4, 2021) [archive]
- ^ YouTube - Galaxy, Exploring the "Stripy Room" sound & material test map (Halo: Builds & Cut Content) (Retrieved on Sep 4, 2021)
