Editing Hall of Mirrors

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.

Latest revision Your text
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Cleanup}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{Era|H3}}
The '''Hall of Mirrors''' effect is a rendering [[glitches|glitch]] present in many games, including ''[[Halo 3]]''. The glitch occurs when nothing is rendered to a particular region of the screen. This glitch can be recreated in the [[wikipedia:Unity (game engine)|Unity]] game engine by turning off the "Clear flags" effect, then entering play mode.
{{ratings}}
The '''Hall of Mirrors''' effect is a rendering [[glitch]] present in many games, including ''[[Halo 3]]''. The glitch occurs when nothing is rendered to a particular region of the screen.


==Description==
== Description ==
When a video game, such as ''Halo 3'', renders a 3D animation, it does so by generating frames of animation. Once the frame of animation has been created, it is then displayed on the screen—specifically, it is drawn over the previous frame, covering it.
When a video game, such as ''Halo 3'', renders a 3D animation, it does so by generating frames of animation. Once the frame of animation has been created, it is then displayed on the screen -- specifically, it is drawn over the previous frame, covering it.


Sometimes, however, when a frame of 3D animation is rendered, nothing—not even a skybox—is rendered to a particular region of the screen. This results in parts of the affected frame being transparent. When the new frame is then drawn over the previous frame, parts of the previous frame show through. In nearly all games, this can result in a "hall of mirrors" or "afterimage" effect; if, in ''Halo 3'', it occurs on Player 2's screen during split-screen gameplay, then parts of Player 1's screen will appear on Player 2's screen.
Sometimes, however, when a frame of 3D animation is rendered, nothing -- not even a skybox -- is rendered to a particular region of the screen. This results in parts of the affected frame being transparent. When the new frame is then drawn over the previous frame, parts of the previous frame show through. In nearly all games, this can result in a "hall of mirrors" or "afterimage" effect; if, in ''Halo 3'', it occurs on Player 2's screen during split-screen gameplay, then parts of Player 1's screen will appear on Player 2's screen.


When playing a [[Campaign]] or [[Multiplayer]] level, if a player can see outside the level—that is, if they can see the void surrounding the level—then they will see the hall of mirrors effect. However, when saving a screenshot or showing a Campaign [[Theater|film]], the effect is replaced with a solid color (usually sky blue in Multiplayer or off-white in Campaign). Furthermore, after taking a screenshot, the hall of mirrors effect sometimes shows part of the game's GUI (e.x. parts of the keyboard dialog box that is used to type a screenshot's name and description).
When playing a [[Campaign]] or [[Multiplayer]] level, if a player can see outside the level -- that is, if they can see the void surrounding the level -- then they will see the hall of mirrors effect. However, when saving a screenshot or showing a Campaign [[Theater|film]], the effect is replaced with a solid color (usually sky blue in Multiplayer or off-white in Campaign). Furthermore, after taking a screenshot, the hall of mirrors effect sometimes shows part of the game's GUI (e.x. parts of the keyboard dialog box that is used to type a screenshot's name and description).


==Explanation==
==Explanation==
To be more specific, the frames of animation are created by the rendering engine and stored in a [[Wikipedia:Framebuffer|framebuffer]]. The framebuffer is basically a storage area for frame data. When a frame is displayed, it is sent to the framebuffer.
To be more specific, the frames of animation are created by the rendering engine and stored in a [[Wikipedia:Framebuffer|framebuffer]]. The framebuffer is basically a storage area for frame data. When a frame is displayed, it is sent to the framebuffer.


The hall of mirrors effect results from the fact that the framebuffer is not cleared between frames. That is, the data from the previous frame is not deleted from the framebuffer before the next frame is drawn, so if the next frame has transparent regions, then the undeleted data from the previous frame will show through.
The hall of mirrors effect results from the fact that the framebuffer is not cleared between frames.{{fact}} That is, the data from the previous frame is not deleted from the framebuffer before the next frame is drawn, so if the next frame has transparent regions, then the un-deleted data from the previous frame will show through.


There is also an explanation for the phenomenon that occurs when the hall of mirrors effect is seen during split-screen gameplay. If the same framebuffer was used for each of the split screens, then Player 1's screen would show through any transparent areas on Player 2's screen, because Player 2's screen is effectively drawn over Player 1's.{{citation needed}}
There is also an explanation for the phenomenon that occurs when the hall of mirrors effect is seen during split-screen gameplay. If the same framebuffer was used for each of the split screens, then Player 1's screen would show through any transparent areas on Player 2's screen, because Player 2's screen is effectively drawn over Player 1's.{{fact}}


==Seeing the Hall of Mirrors Effect==
==Seeing the Hall of Mirrors Effect==
There are a variety of ways to view the effect. Any time a player gets outside the map or sees a gap in the level geometry, they may see the effect.
There are a variety of ways to view the effect. Any time a player gets outside of the map or sees a gap in the level geometry, they may see the effect.


If [[Panoramic camera mode|Pan Cam]] is used to get outside a level's boundaries, then the hall of mirrors glitch is almost guaranteed to appear.
If [[Pan Cam]] is used to get outside of a level's boundaries, then the hall of mirrors effect is almost guaranteed to appear.
===''Halo 3''===
====Campaign====
=====The Storm=====
Start [[The Storm]] at '''Rally Point Alpha''' on Co-op.
During the part that the [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarab Tanks]] appear, two players must be on a Mongoose, and drive them against a door <!-- which door? --> and the passenger to alight. If done correctly, the game will freeze for 10 seconds. The Scarab will disappear, and if you go to the door, you will see the hall of mirrors effect.


=====The Covenant=====
===Campaign===
At the beginning of [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]], after taking out the (normal) [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraith]], if you climb up the surface of the tower you are supposed to enter, you will find a rift in the snow that shows the hall of mirrors effect.
====The Storm====
Start [[The Storm (Level)|The Storm]] at '''Rally Point Alpha''' on Co-op.


Another hall of mirrors effect occurs in this level. Start the level at '''Rally Point Alpha'''. Get into a [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornet]] and fly to the second tower. Look directly at it and hover down to the left. You will be facing a ledge; fly towards it. Park the Hornet onto the longest ledge, and face the rock wall. Turn left and move forward to a crack in the rock. When you look into it, you will see the hall of mirrors effect.
During the part with the [[Scarab Tank]]s, get two players on a Mongoose, and have them drive against a door <!-- which door? --> and the passenger to alight. If done correctly, the game will freeze for 10 seconds. The Scarab will disappear, and if you go to the door, you will see the hall of mirrors effect.


The glitch can also be seen when the [[Time travel glitch]] is performed.
====The Covenant====
At the beginning of [[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]], after taking out the (normal) [[Wraith]], if you climb up the surface of the tower you are supposed to enter, you will find a rift in the snow that shows the hall of mirrors effect.


=====Halo=====
Another hall of mirrors effect occurs in this level. Start the level at '''Rally Point Alpha'''. Get into a [[Hornet]] and fly to the second tower. Look directly at it and hover down to the left. You will be facing a ledge; fly towards it. Park the Hornet onto the longest ledge, and face the rock wall. Turn left and move forward to a crack in the rock. When you look into it, you will see the hall of mirrors effect.
Start [[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]] at '''Rally Point Alpha''' on [[Campaign#Cooperative|Co-op]], right after you kill [[343 Guilty Spark]]. One player should move forwards and kill the [[The Flood|Flood]] forces ahead; the other one should remain where they spawned. The stationary player should turn and look behind them. They will see two doors; they need to go to the bottom of the one on the left, and look straight up. There will be a small crack that displays the hall of mirrors effect.


====Multiplayer====
The glitch can also be seen when the [[Time Travel Glitch]] is performed.
=====Isolation=====
On the default [[Isolation]], go up to the Forerunner Wall, and try to force a teleporter through it. Once it's out, go through it, and you should see a Hall of Mirrors Effect.


=====Sandtrap=====
====Halo====
The glitch can be done in [[Sandtrap]] in [[Forge]]. Go into Edit Mode, and fly into the chasm-like structure and face the high dunes that cover up the barrier. Look right, and move forward into the indention of the top of the wall just below the ledge and zoom in. You should see the hall of mirrors effect there.
Start [[Halo (Halo 3 Level)|Halo]] at '''Rally Point Alpha''' on [[Co-op]], so that you begin right after the part where you kill [[343 Guilty Spark]]. One player should move forwards and kill the [[Flood]] forces ahead; the other one should remain where they spawned. The stationary player should turn and look behind them. They will see two doors; they need to go to the bottom of the one on the left, and look straight up. There will be a small crack that displays the hall of mirrors effect.


===''Halo 3: ODST''===
===Multiplayer===
=====Prepare to Drop=====
====Isolation====
The "Hall of Mirrors" glitch can be done by observing the untextured exterior of the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] ''[[UNSC Say My Name|Say My Name]]'' ship in the level [[Prepare To Drop|Prepare to Drop]] in [[Theater]] mode.
:''These instructions need to be rewritten in terms of the default, unmodified Isolation, if possible.''
On a variant of the multiplayer map [[Isolation]], called "A Base", the glitch can be seen on the outer wall. If you venture outside the base and past the [[Mongoose]], look at your feet while sticking to the wall. So far along, your feet will start to float, like you are falling. Start to crouch and you will start to fall. Carry on crouching until you hit the grass. If you turn around so you are parallel to the wall, you will see the hall of mirrors effect.


== External links ==
====Sandtrap====
The glitch can be done in [[Sandtrap]] when in [[Forge]]. Go into Edit Mode, and fly into the chasm-like structure and face the high dunes that cover up the barrier. Look right, and move forward into the indention of top of the wall just below the ledge and zoom in. You should see the hall of mirrors effect here.
 
===Halo 3: ODST===
====Prepare to Drop====
Using a glitch to observe the level [[Prepare to Drop]] in [[Theater]] mode, one can see the "Hall of Mirrors" effect when looking at the untextured exterior of the [[UNSC]] ''[[Say My Name]]''.
 
== External Links ==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDc5Pk6jIEY '''YouTube:''' FTWTF Funtage]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDc5Pk6jIEY '''YouTube:''' FTWTF Funtage]
**This video, which was featured in [http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=news&cid=21900 a Bungie.net news article], shows the hall of mirrors effect. The effect, which happens when a player lags beneath the ground, can be seen from [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDc5Pk6jIEY#t=3m51s three minutes and fifty-one seconds into the video (3:51)] to four and a half minutes into the video (4:30).
**This video, which was featured in [http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=news&cid=21900 a Bungie.net news article], shows the hall of mirrors effect. The effect, which happens when a player lags beneath the ground, can be seen from [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDc5Pk6jIEY#t=3m51s three minutes and fifty-one seconds into the video (3:51)] to four and a half minutes into the video (4:30).


{{Glitches}}
{{Halo 3 Glitches}}
[[Category:Glitches]]
[[Category:Glitches]]
[[Category:Halo 3 glitches]]
[[Category:Halo 3 Glitches]]
[[Category:Halo 3: ODST glitches]]

Please note that all contributions to Halopedia are considered to be released under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license (see Halopedia:Copyrights for details). If you don't want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, then don't submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource. Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

Cancel Editing help (opens in new window)

To view or search uploaded images go to the list of images. Uploads and deletions are also logged in the upload log. For help including images on a page see Help:Images. For a sound file, use this code: [[Media:File.ogg]].

Do not copy text from other websites without permission. It will be deleted.