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{{Realworld}}
{{Title|''Halo 2'' (Windows Vista)}}
[[Image:Vista.jpg|thumb|A screenshot of gameplay.]] [[Image:HAV.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Halo Vista gameplay]]
{{Status|RealWorld}}
[[Bungie Studios]], along with a [[Microsoft Game Studios]], is currently working on porting '''[[Halo 2]]''' for use on the '''[[wikipedia:Windows Vista|Windows Vista]]''' operating system. No Mac or XP version is planned as of now.
{{Disambig header|the Windows Vista port|the original [[Xbox]] title|Halo 2}}
{{Game infobox
|name= ''Halo 2 Vista''
|image= [[File:Halo 2 box art (PC).jpg|300px]]
|developer= [[Hired Gun]]
|publisher= [[Microsoft Game Studios]]
|engine=[[Blam engine]]
|platform= [[Personal computer|PC]] - Windows Vista or 7
|releasedate= May 31, 2007
|genre= [[First-person shooter]]
|modes= [[Campaign|Campaign Mode]], [[multiplayer]]
|rating= [[Wikipedia:Entertainment Software Ratings Board|ESRB]]: Mature (M) for  Blood and Gore, Language, and Violence<br>
[[Wikipedia:Pan European Game Information|PEGI]]: 16+ (Europe only)
}}
'''''Halo 2''''' received a PC port, commonly nicknamed ''Halo 2 Vista'', which was developed by Hired Gun for use on the '''[[wikipedia:Windows Vista|Windows Vista]]''' operating system exclusively and as a release title for the "Games for Windows" category. The release date was originally planned for May 8, 2007. However, the release date was delayed to May 22, 2007, because the team needed "to make some improvements to the installation experience and address other technical issues."


It has however been confirmed that there will be a map editor that will be made by Microsoft (in cooperation with Bungie Studios) and packaged with the game. The map editor will include the same programs as previosuly used in the [[Halo Editing Kit]] (HEK). These programs are Guerilla, Sapien and Tool. The full extent of the map editor's capabilities have not yet been made available.
The release dates for the game were erratic, as Australia had publicly available copies, and some stores in the United States were selling copies as well. Microsoft had stated that the release date had been pushed back one final time, due to partial nudity found in the ''Halo 2 Vista'' Map Editing Kit, making the release date May 31, 2007, for the United States.


Halo 2 Vista will have free online play through Windows Live, with the ability to send messages to Halo 2 Xbox players on Xbox Live, but no PC-Xbox gameplay is available. This is at least partly due to the difficulty of implementing crossplay between the Windows Live and Xbox Live gaming networks without problems. Bungie has also stated that there will be some "very compelling reasons" to purchase a paid Windows Live account (possibly premium downloadable content, lagless 16+ player matches, and exclusive gametypes/maps), even though basic online play has been confirmed as being free of cost.
==Features==
''Halo 2 Vista'' has been reworked graphically for the PC, including high-resolution textures and support for very high resolutions. While the single player campaign does not differ from the Xbox version, the player can earn newly implemented single and multiplayer achievements. One of the selling points of ''Halo 2 Vista'' is an included map editor. It has included the same programs as previously used in the [[Halo Editing Kit]] and also includes a pre-made "custom" map by default, named ''[[Example]]'', which was made for players to observe as an example for making their own custom maps.


==External Links==
A new ability pushed by the Microsoft team is a feature called "[[wikipedia:Tray and Play|Tray and Play]]". It is an attempt to emulate the ability of consoles to instantly play new discs in a DVD drive without installing them, allowing the end-user to play the game as it is installing. ''Halo 2 Vista'' was the only game released with this technology.
*[http://halo2vista.com Halo 2 Vista Website]
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?story=halo2vistaannounce Bungie's Announcement]
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?story=tntthing1 Halo 2 for Windows Vista: The Inside Scoop]
*[http://halo2pc.org HALO 2 for PC fansite and community]


[[File:HAV.jpg|thumb|200px|Screenshot of ''Halo 2 Vista'', showing high resolution.]]
===Multiplayer===
''Halo 2 Vista'', being a release for the Games for Windows service, includes support for Xbox Live for Windows system. It intertwines with the [[Xbox LIVE|Xbox Live]] system, allowing communication with someone who has an Xbox. However, cross-platform play is not supported, despite being planned, initially. The GFWL interface is similar to that of the Xbox 360 dashboard. Instead of using peer to peer matchmaking, players are able to create dedicated servers, which are created with a program that comes with the disc.


[[Category:Games]]
Gamertags, which are used on Xbox Live, are also used on Live for Windows. If a player were to have an Xbox Live gamertag, they would be able to log on using that. Otherwise, a free account can be registered for a player. Players can also match up in parties, and the party leader can specify maps and game types to play on the go.
 
Exclusive to ''Halo 2 Vista'' are 2 new maps, [[District]] and [[Uplift]]. However, ''Halo 2 Vista'' does not include the maps [[Desolation]] or [[Tombstone]]. Modders have managed to port [http://h2v.halomaps.org/index.cfm?pg=3&fid=2350 Desolation] & [http://forum.halomaps.org/index.cfm?page=topic&topicID=30500 Tombstone] to ''Halo 2 Vista''.
 
On January 16, 2013, citing declining online population (consistently 20 players or fewer) [[343 Industries]] announced that online multiplayer for ''Halo 2 Vista'' would be discontinued February 15, 2013.<ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/01/16/The-Halo-Bulletin-11613.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin: 1.16.13'']</ref> However, it was later announced that the multiplayer would be extended to June 2013. ''Halo 2 Vista'' multiplayer servers eventually went offline in July 2015.
 
==System Requirements==
The minimum system requirements to run ''[[Halo 2]]'' on Windows Vista is a Windows Experience Index of 3.0. The recommended system requirements is a WEI of 5.0. Users can play the game with a rating of less than 3.0, but they will have to reduce graphics quality in order to run the game smoothly. The game can be set on different levels of detail (low, medium, or high) to change performance and appearance. Anti-aliasing and the game's resolution can be changed, as well.
 
{{scrollbox|
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
;Minimum
'''Operating system''': Windows Vista<br />
'''CPU''': 2 Ghz Pentium 4 class processor (or x64)<br />
'''GPU''': DX9 graphics card: WDDM driver, PS 2.0/32BPP, At least nVidia 6000 or ATI x700 or above<br />
'''VRAM''': 128MB<br />
'''RAM''': 1GB<br />
'''HDD''': 7GB<br />
'''DVD-ROM''': required<br/>
{{col-3}}
;Recommended
'''Operating system''': Windows Vista<br />
'''CPU''': Dual Core processor<br />
'''GPU''': DX9 graphics card: WDDM driver, PS 3.0/32BPP, At least nVidia 7800 or ATI x1800 or above<br />
'''VRAM''': 256MB<br />
'''RAM''': 1GB<br />
'''HDD''': 7GB<br />
'''DVD-ROM''': required<br/>
{{col-end}}
}}
 
===DRM===
''Halo 2 Vista'' is limited to three installations per copy. Although there is no mechanism to deactivate an installation, Microsoft will typically activate additional installations via the 'telephone activation' system, providing the user explains their situation and has a legitimate serial number.
 
==Reception==
''Halo 2 Vista'' was considerably less popular than its predecessor on the Xbox. Metacritic aggregated a score of 72%, whereas the original Xbox version had earned an aggregate score of 95% and the coveted "Must-Play" accolade.<ref>[https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/halo-2 '''Metacritic.com''': ''Halo 2 for PC Reviews'']</ref><ref>[https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/halo-2 '''Metacritic.com''': ''Halo 2 for Xbox Reviews'']</ref> {{citation needed}}Game Informer cited the outdated graphics and lack of innovation, which they said made the game feel "too outdated for a next-generation PC game, especially compared with how stunning ''Halo 2'' had been on Xbox".{{citation needed}}
 
''Halo 2 Vista'' lacked features such as online cooperative play, and while the Xbox version never supported this feature, compared to ''[[Halo 3]]'', which launched on the Xbox 360 also in 2007, this lack of parity between both games released only months apart contributed to its lackluster reputation. ''Halo 2 Vista's'' dedicated server functionality was also severely downgraded in comparison with ''Halo: Combat Evolved's'' dedicated server commands.
 
==Trivia==
*[[Achievement]]s were included with the PC version of ''Halo 2'', though they can only unlock while players are logged into Games for Windows Live. These achievements are shown on the player's Live profile and go towards their Gamerscore, just like Xbox 360 and Xbox One games.
*''Halo 2 Vista'' is the first and only ''Halo'' game thus far to feature Tray and Play. In addition, no other Games for Windows Live title has implemented this feature.
*It is suspected that the ''Halo 2'' Editing Kit has had many features disabled or deleted, which would disallow all types of custom tag creation. As of April 2011 there has been no custom map that has been created with custom player models, vehicles, scenery/objects, scripts.
*''Halo 2 Vista'' is the only game prior to ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' that is able to truly run at 60 frames per second in all game modes, not just including the menus, which also ran at 60FPS in the Xbox version. ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved (PC port)|''Halo: Combat Evolved'' for PC]]'' is also technically capable of running at 60FPS, but all animations for characters, vehicles, effects, etc. are locked at 30FPS, like the [[Xbox]] and [[Xbox 360]] versions of the games.
*''Halo 2 Vista'' was rated M for violence, language, blood and gore, and also partial nudity, which the Xbox version lacked. It turns out that a bug in a .ass error appeared to show the butt of a naked man. This could be removed simply with a patch downloadable from the ''Halo 2 Vista'' website.
*This is the only ''Halo'' game that gives achievements that are not tracked on ''[[Halo Waypoint]]''.
*Through the use of third party, unauthorized patches, ''Halo 2 Vista'' was able to work on certain versions of Windows XP.
*Although the Example map did ship with the game, there were several [[Cut Halo 2 levels#Halo 2 for Windows Vista map editor examples|similar maps]] intended to be included to further-demonstrate the modding toolset available.
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Halo2Vista-GameCover.jpg|Cover art for ''Halo 2 Vista''.
File:H2V_Disk.png|Game disk for ''Halo 2 Vista''.
</gallery>
 
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
==Related links==
===Internal===
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*[[Achievements (Halo 2)|List of achievements]]
*[[Halo 2 Vista Patches|List of patches]]
 
===External===
*[http://www.modacity.net/forums Modacity (formerly h2vista.net), a fansite dedicated to modding Halo 1 CE]
*[http://h2v.halomaps.org Halo Maps, an archive of Halo 2 Vista maps and tools]
 
{{Navbox/Media/Games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2 (Windows Vista), Halo}}
[[Category:Halo 2 (Windows Vista)| ]]
[[Category:Bungie games]]

Latest revision as of 19:05, December 2, 2023

This article is about the Windows Vista port. For the original Xbox title, see Halo 2.
Halo 2 Vista
Halo 2 box art (PC).jpg

Developer(s):

Hired Gun

Publisher(s):

Microsoft Game Studios

Engine:

Blam engine

Platform(s):

PC - Windows Vista or 7

Release date(s):

May 31, 2007

Genre(s):

First-person shooter

Mode(s):

Campaign Mode, multiplayer

Rating(s):

ESRB: Mature (M) for Blood and Gore, Language, and Violence
PEGI: 16+ (Europe only)

 

Halo 2 received a PC port, commonly nicknamed Halo 2 Vista, which was developed by Hired Gun for use on the Windows Vista operating system exclusively and as a release title for the "Games for Windows" category. The release date was originally planned for May 8, 2007. However, the release date was delayed to May 22, 2007, because the team needed "to make some improvements to the installation experience and address other technical issues."

The release dates for the game were erratic, as Australia had publicly available copies, and some stores in the United States were selling copies as well. Microsoft had stated that the release date had been pushed back one final time, due to partial nudity found in the Halo 2 Vista Map Editing Kit, making the release date May 31, 2007, for the United States.

Features[edit]

Halo 2 Vista has been reworked graphically for the PC, including high-resolution textures and support for very high resolutions. While the single player campaign does not differ from the Xbox version, the player can earn newly implemented single and multiplayer achievements. One of the selling points of Halo 2 Vista is an included map editor. It has included the same programs as previously used in the Halo Editing Kit and also includes a pre-made "custom" map by default, named Example, which was made for players to observe as an example for making their own custom maps.

A new ability pushed by the Microsoft team is a feature called "Tray and Play". It is an attempt to emulate the ability of consoles to instantly play new discs in a DVD drive without installing them, allowing the end-user to play the game as it is installing. Halo 2 Vista was the only game released with this technology.

Screenshot of Halo 2 Vista, showing high resolution.

Multiplayer[edit]

Halo 2 Vista, being a release for the Games for Windows service, includes support for Xbox Live for Windows system. It intertwines with the Xbox Live system, allowing communication with someone who has an Xbox. However, cross-platform play is not supported, despite being planned, initially. The GFWL interface is similar to that of the Xbox 360 dashboard. Instead of using peer to peer matchmaking, players are able to create dedicated servers, which are created with a program that comes with the disc.

Gamertags, which are used on Xbox Live, are also used on Live for Windows. If a player were to have an Xbox Live gamertag, they would be able to log on using that. Otherwise, a free account can be registered for a player. Players can also match up in parties, and the party leader can specify maps and game types to play on the go.

Exclusive to Halo 2 Vista are 2 new maps, District and Uplift. However, Halo 2 Vista does not include the maps Desolation or Tombstone. Modders have managed to port Desolation & Tombstone to Halo 2 Vista.

On January 16, 2013, citing declining online population (consistently 20 players or fewer) 343 Industries announced that online multiplayer for Halo 2 Vista would be discontinued February 15, 2013.[1] However, it was later announced that the multiplayer would be extended to June 2013. Halo 2 Vista multiplayer servers eventually went offline in July 2015.

System Requirements[edit]

The minimum system requirements to run Halo 2 on Windows Vista is a Windows Experience Index of 3.0. The recommended system requirements is a WEI of 5.0. Users can play the game with a rating of less than 3.0, but they will have to reduce graphics quality in order to run the game smoothly. The game can be set on different levels of detail (low, medium, or high) to change performance and appearance. Anti-aliasing and the game's resolution can be changed, as well.

Minimum

Operating system: Windows Vista
CPU: 2 Ghz Pentium 4 class processor (or x64)
GPU: DX9 graphics card: WDDM driver, PS 2.0/32BPP, At least nVidia 6000 or ATI x700 or above
VRAM: 128MB
RAM: 1GB
HDD: 7GB
DVD-ROM: required

Recommended

Operating system: Windows Vista
CPU: Dual Core processor
GPU: DX9 graphics card: WDDM driver, PS 3.0/32BPP, At least nVidia 7800 or ATI x1800 or above
VRAM: 256MB
RAM: 1GB
HDD: 7GB
DVD-ROM: required

DRM[edit]

Halo 2 Vista is limited to three installations per copy. Although there is no mechanism to deactivate an installation, Microsoft will typically activate additional installations via the 'telephone activation' system, providing the user explains their situation and has a legitimate serial number.

Reception[edit]

Halo 2 Vista was considerably less popular than its predecessor on the Xbox. Metacritic aggregated a score of 72%, whereas the original Xbox version had earned an aggregate score of 95% and the coveted "Must-Play" accolade.[2][3] [citation needed]Game Informer cited the outdated graphics and lack of innovation, which they said made the game feel "too outdated for a next-generation PC game, especially compared with how stunning Halo 2 had been on Xbox".[citation needed]

Halo 2 Vista lacked features such as online cooperative play, and while the Xbox version never supported this feature, compared to Halo 3, which launched on the Xbox 360 also in 2007, this lack of parity between both games released only months apart contributed to its lackluster reputation. Halo 2 Vista's dedicated server functionality was also severely downgraded in comparison with Halo: Combat Evolved's dedicated server commands.

Trivia[edit]

  • Achievements were included with the PC version of Halo 2, though they can only unlock while players are logged into Games for Windows Live. These achievements are shown on the player's Live profile and go towards their Gamerscore, just like Xbox 360 and Xbox One games.
  • Halo 2 Vista is the first and only Halo game thus far to feature Tray and Play. In addition, no other Games for Windows Live title has implemented this feature.
  • It is suspected that the Halo 2 Editing Kit has had many features disabled or deleted, which would disallow all types of custom tag creation. As of April 2011 there has been no custom map that has been created with custom player models, vehicles, scenery/objects, scripts.
  • Halo 2 Vista is the only game prior to Halo: The Master Chief Collection that is able to truly run at 60 frames per second in all game modes, not just including the menus, which also ran at 60FPS in the Xbox version. Halo: Combat Evolved for PC is also technically capable of running at 60FPS, but all animations for characters, vehicles, effects, etc. are locked at 30FPS, like the Xbox and Xbox 360 versions of the games.
  • Halo 2 Vista was rated M for violence, language, blood and gore, and also partial nudity, which the Xbox version lacked. It turns out that a bug in a .ass error appeared to show the butt of a naked man. This could be removed simply with a patch downloadable from the Halo 2 Vista website.
  • This is the only Halo game that gives achievements that are not tracked on Halo Waypoint.
  • Through the use of third party, unauthorized patches, Halo 2 Vista was able to work on certain versions of Windows XP.
  • Although the Example map did ship with the game, there were several similar maps intended to be included to further-demonstrate the modding toolset available.

Gallery[edit]

Sources[edit]

Related links[edit]

Internal[edit]

External[edit]