Cut Halo: Reach vehicles: Difference between revisions

Labelled in file uploads as the "Wolverine" and "Kodiak" at different stages, various concept images released by [[Isaac Hannaford]] indicate that at some point in the development of ''Reach'' an APC was planned for inclusion in the game.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.artstation.com/artwork/armored-personnel-carrier-60d7fce3-4900-41d2-88d8-c589cf476aaa|Site=ArtStation|Page=Armored personnel carrier|D=11|M=9|Y=2021}} Few details are known of this vehicle, and it is likely it was never realised in 3D or in-engine prototyping. The vehicle notable bears an extremely heavy resemblance to the [https://avp.fandom.com/wiki/M577_Armored_Personnel_Carrier M577 APC] from the film ''[[Wikipedia:Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'' - one of [[List of references to Aliens in the Halo series|many inspirations]] taken from the ''Alien'' franchise as a whole.

The release of ''[[Halo Wars]]'' in [[2009]] saw the introduction of the [[M9 Wolverine]] - an anti-air tank employed by the UNSC. It is likely that this spurred the change of the APC's name from Wolverine to Kodiak. The release of ''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' in [[2017]] saw the introduction of the [[M400 Kodiak]] - a self-propelled artillery vehicle bearing little resemblance to the planned ''Reach'' vehicle.

The Kodiak was prototyped in-engine in some form{{Ref/Twitter|game_fabricator|706185956693450752|Marcus Lehto|Quote=I wish we still had some old Reach builds with the Kodiak!|D=25|M=10|Y=2021}}, with code referencing the Wolverine as a vehicle physics model remaining in the files of ''Reach''.{{Ref/Note|In ''Halo'', vehicles are separated by their physics type with models such as "Human Jeep Type" representing the Warthog, Mongoose and Spade physics or the "Alien Scout Type" representing the Wraith, Ghost and Revenant. The Wolverine APC is its own physics model.}} Tthe vehicle operates in a similar manner to other human vehicles such as the Warthog and Mongoose, though has an additional deployed state.

===Early Sabre===

|Quote=we mocked this up in 3d and it didn't get the parallax I wanted it to from the players perspective so I decided to redo it and build it myself to ensure my goals for the fighter were met.|D=26|M=01|Y=2021}}

The boat was concepted by [[Isaac Hannaford]]{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.isaachannaford.com/2011/02/halo-reach-boat-and-pioneer-offroad.html|Site=Isaac Hannaford's Blog|Page=Halo Reach boat and the Pioneer offroad vehicle|Quote=The boat would have been great, and some of the test were promising, but it never quite made it.  You should have seen it jump the waves though...  Awsome!|D=11|M=9|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.artstation.com/artwork/98ZxQ|Site=ArtStation|Page=Assorted Vehicle designs for Halo: REACH|D=11|M=9|Y=2021}}, and prototyped extensively in-engine resulting in the development of water-wake technology later re-used for the jet-wash effects on the [[Series 8 jetpack|jetpack]].{{Ref/Twitter|stepscot|1035516267808010240|Steve Scott|Quote=The sweet water wake tech we developed for the shelved boat prototype came back as ground-aware jet wash on the jetpack. Working with Baldwin on that feature was a highlight of that development cycle for me|D=11|M=9|Y=2021}} Ultimately, the boat was cut entirely, though the boat's removal was credited in allowing the level [[New Alexandria]] to be fully-developed and make it into the final game.{{Ref/Twitter|sam_arguez|1035374911248728064|Sam Arguez|Quote=We may have lost the boat, but in doing so we made room for that cool Falcon rooftop mission by @dmiller360 [Dan Miller] . Man, I should go play Reach again...|D=11|M=9|Y=2021}} A small amount of footage of the boat prototype was later shown at PAX 2010 in a demo reel of cut content; showcasing the boat riding on the waves and driven in a third-person view.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=PAX10|pZs8ryXP4kE|Halo|PAX 2010: Bungie Halo: Reach Panel (Part 3)}}

While the {{Pattern|Deutoros|Scarab}} did ultimately make its way into the final game as a low-poly background entity on the levels [[Tip of the Spear]] and [[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]] (with the latter level also featuring a more detailed, non-interactive setpiece Scarab at one point in the mission), early ideas for the game's campaign were to have the player character able to ''drive'' the Scarab. Early ideas for the level New Alexandria would have seen the player drive the Scarab in the remains of the post-[[glassing]] city. Prototypes for the Scarab were made and the physics involved described by Chris Ophdal as "sweet", though the Scarab was ultimately considered unsustainable - especially with the high engine cost needed to run the level. Ultimately, the drivable Scarab was scrapped and New Alexandria was transformed into an aerial mission focusing on the [[Falcon]] instead.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-halo-reach-tech-interview?page=3|Site=Eurogamer|Page=Tech Interview: Halo: Reach - Page 3|D=11|M=9|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Game|Id=Commentary|HR|Detail=[[Halo: Reach Legendary Edition|Legendary Edition]] developer commentary}}

While the {{Pattern|Rizvum|Revenant}} was ultimately realised in the final game as a fully-fledged vehicle, an unused physics model present in the game files suggests a different originally-intended role for the vehicle. In the final release, the Revenant utilised the "alien scout" physics model, shared with the [[Ghost]] which provides the vehicle with four directions of movement and a front-facing, driver-controlled weapon. The unused Revenant variation in the files acts similarly, though with the exception that the driver-controlled turret has a full 360 degrees of rotation - similar to the turret on the [[Scorpion]] tank. It is unknown as to why this ultimately went unused.

Referred to internally as the "siege engine", little is known of this gargantuan Covenant vehicle's purpose. The vehicle was concepted by Isaac Hannaford, though never progressed past the concept stage.{{Ref/Twitter|Isaac_Hannaford|1375859860202430465|Isaac Hannaford|Quote=Covenant siege engine painted over a beautiful piece by Jamie Jones.|D=28|M=3|Y=2021}} When asked about the vehicle's resemblance to the [https://terminator.fandom.com/wiki/HK-Tank H-K-Tank] from the ''Terminator'' franchise, Hannaford responded that there were "''no coincidences''."{{Ref/Twitter|Isaac_Hannaford|1378916325758693377|Isaac Hannaford|Quote=There are no coincidences :)|D=11|M=9|Y=2021}}