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(Edited release date: there has been a discussion about the official release date of Halo Custom Edition. But thanks to some archived webpages, it's clear to say that Gearbox Software released Custom Edition on May 5, 2004. Sources: https://web.archive.org/web/20040603173945/http://www.3dgamers.com/news/more/1083850976/ and http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/halo-combat-evolved/511526p1.html)
 
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{{Ratings}}
{{Title|''Halo Custom Edition''}}
{{era|H1|RW|}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
[[File:Halocustomedition.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The logo for Halo: Custom Edition. This appears in the background while downloading Custom Edition.]]
{{Cleanup}}
'''''Halo Custom Edition''''', sometimes abbreviated '''''Halo CE''''' (which is also often accepted as an abbreviation for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''), is a free expansion that requires a key code of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' by [[Bungie Studios]], which was ported to the PC by [[Gearbox Software]]. ''Halo CE'' was released by Gearbox as an unsupported version of the original game.


== Features ==
[[File:Custom edition menu.jpg|250px|thumb|Main menu of ''Halo Custom Edition'']]
[[File:ce1.png|thumb|right|200px|Screenshot of ''Halo 2: New Mombasa'', a user-created map based on the ''[[Halo 2]]'' E3 trailer.]]
'''''Halo Custom Edition''''', commonly abbreviated '''''Halo CE''''', is a standalone, multiplayer-only, expansion for the [[Halo: Combat Evolved (PC port)|PC version of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'']]. The expansion was released on [[2004 (real world)|May 5, 2004]] by [[Gearbox Software]] as an unsupported version of the original game. Similar to its PC version, the expansion requires a key-code during installation.
''Halo Custom Edition'' has the ability to load and play user-created content and maps created with the '''Halo Editing Kit''' (HEK). Many custom levels have been created by dedicated members of the modding community and have been posted for download at a large number of websites, like [[Halomaps.org]] and hce.halomaps.org , which is the Custom Edition website.  


Custom maps may contain entirely new content, including:
==Features==
* Level geometry
[[File:Halo Custom Edition User created map.png|thumb|200px|Screenshot of Halo 2: New Mombasa, a user-created map based on the [[Halo 2 E3 Demo|''Halo 2'' E3 trailer]].]]
* Bitmaps
{{Main|Modding|Halo Editing Kit|Developer mode}}
* [[Weapon]]s
''Halo Custom Edition'' allows players to browse and play user-created content and maps created with modding kits. Modders would use the Halo Editing Kit to incorporate custom models, images, physics, and data into an easily distributed .MAP file, which is compressed and uploaded. The amount of custom content varies widely but is limited by the game engine's capabilities. A few examples of user-created content may include custom character models that uses an Elite biped instead of the default Spartan biped, a Call of Duty-inspired level or even special animations and effects for weapons, melee and reloading. Most of these user-created content and maps are available in dedicated modding community websites such as Modacity and [[halomaps.org]].  
* [[Vehicle]]s
* Bipeds
* Sounds
* Game interfaces
* Level scripts and interactivity
* Objects
* Special Effects
* Animations
* HUDs
* Single player modifications
* AIs in multiplayer maps
* AI encounters
* Cinematics
 
An arguably better net-code was put into ''Halo: Custom Edition'' as well. It has noticeably reduced lagging for some, but for others it made it worse. Also, a Rules feature can be viewed by pressing the F2 button (with default settings). It displays all of the specifics for the game-type currently being played in the server.
 
In addition to the Rules feature, pressing F3 (by default) will display the name of all allied players above their respective green arrows, so long as friend indicators are enabled in the gametype. This is extremely useful on large maps, where locating a specific player would otherwise be extremely difficult.
 
With the ''Halo'' Editing Kit, AI characters can also be added in a map. This has allowed some map makers to create their own [[mod]]s that can be played like a campaign mission with checkpoints and objectives, and with some skill, cutscenes. People can also make "teams" of AI that will fight each other. The player can fight alongside Elites and Grunts against [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]], or vice-versa. Also, some map makers have made some entirely new biped AIs, such as retroactively adding Brutes to the Halo campaign.
 
===Limitations===
The engine has become frustrating to many map developers, as more complicated features require more complicated procedures. Theoretically, everything possible with the ''Halo 2''/''Halo 3'' engine is also possible with ''Halo CE'', but is often imperfect. Mappers allow boosting through continuous damage indicators, usually behind the player, to speed up the vehicle. This has been modified to deal 0 damage, but still shows arrows indicating damage on the HUD. There are also possibilities of dual-wielding, although still imperfect. The user converts it into one weapon, replacing the secondary trigger (grenades) for the secondary weapon trigger, although when you pick it up, you instantly pick up two instead of one. One of the most frustrating was the limited space for tags, one of the problems the Custom Mapping Team has faced. This has not been a concern to many mappers, though.


Two small features were added to the game such as the ability to display the specific for the gametype currently being played in the server (by pressing F2), and the ability to display the name of all players in the same team above their respective green arrows (by pressing F3). Additionally, an arguably better net-code was put into ''Halo: Custom Edition'' as well. The game has noticeably reduced latency issues compared to ''Halo PC''.


==Community==
==Community==
Several modding communities have emerged since the advent of ''Halo CE''. One of the most prominent communities is [[Halomaps.org]] which has the most updated multiplayer custom maps. Modders use the ''Halo Editing Kit'' to incorporate custom models, images, physics, and data into an easily distributed .MAP file, which is compressed and uploaded. In the game, many clans establish themselves to fight one another on custom maps. They train intensely on some maps, which extends and steepens the learning curve for many players. Halo Custom Edition has also been used for several Machinima videos. As such, there are several modded versions of existing maps, not to mention some completely new maps designed specifically for Machinima. Another popular idea is to make map series which is like a video game series, but much smaller.
Several modding communities have emerged since the advent of ''Halo Custom Edition''. One of the most prominent modding community website is halomaps.org which has the most updated multiplayer custom maps. Members of the modding community often discuss about user-created content and explores the need of "room for improvement", with several others providing tutorials to guide new members to modding and to share their findings of tinkering with the Halo engine with the rest of the members. The modding community contribute their custom content in various projects, ranging from a production of [[machinima]] to development a single-player campaign and recreation of multiplayer maps from newer ''Halo'' titles and from other entertainment titles.
 
== Halo Editing Kit ==
{{main|Halo Editing Kit}}
The [[Halo Editing Kit]], commonly referred to by its acronym, '''HEK''', is a repackaging of the development tools that Bungie created and used in the development process of ''Halo''. The ''Halo'' Editing Kit was released for the creation of custom content for ''Halo Custom Edition''. It is a free, unsupported add-on released by Gearbox Software.
 
== Developer Mode ==
{{main|Developer Mode}}
The Developer mode, commonly referred to as the ''devmode'', is an external program used to execute commands in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] for the PC. It is used by map designers to test out maps they make.
Some designers created a specialized devmode program called "alldev". This allows Custom Edition users to open devmode on servers that they created.


== Links ==
==External links==
=== Internal ===
*[http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?fid=410 '''Halomaps.org''': ''Halo: Custom Edition'' download link]
*[[Halomaps.org]]
*[[Halo Map Tools]]
*[[Halo Cache Editor]]  


=== External ===
{{Navbox/Media/Games}}
*[http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?fid=410 Download Halo: Custom Edition]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Custom Edition, Halo}}
*[http://www.gearboxsoftware.com/index.php?p=games&game=halo ''Halo'' PC at Gearbox Software]
[[Category:Modding]]
*[[w:c:halomods:Main_Page|Halomods wiki]]
[[Category:Halo: Combat Evolved (PC)]]
*[http://halomaps.org/ Halomaps.org website]
[[Category:Bungie games]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer]]

Latest revision as of 07:00, November 17, 2023

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Main menu of Halo Custom Edition

Halo Custom Edition, commonly abbreviated Halo CE, is a standalone, multiplayer-only, expansion for the PC version of Halo: Combat Evolved. The expansion was released on May 5, 2004 by Gearbox Software as an unsupported version of the original game. Similar to its PC version, the expansion requires a key-code during installation.

Features[edit]

Screenshot of Halo 2: New Mombasa, a user-created map based on the Halo 2 E3 trailer.
Main articles: Modding, Halo Editing Kit, Developer mode

Halo Custom Edition allows players to browse and play user-created content and maps created with modding kits. Modders would use the Halo Editing Kit to incorporate custom models, images, physics, and data into an easily distributed .MAP file, which is compressed and uploaded. The amount of custom content varies widely but is limited by the game engine's capabilities. A few examples of user-created content may include custom character models that uses an Elite biped instead of the default Spartan biped, a Call of Duty-inspired level or even special animations and effects for weapons, melee and reloading. Most of these user-created content and maps are available in dedicated modding community websites such as Modacity and halomaps.org.

Two small features were added to the game such as the ability to display the specific for the gametype currently being played in the server (by pressing F2), and the ability to display the name of all players in the same team above their respective green arrows (by pressing F3). Additionally, an arguably better net-code was put into Halo: Custom Edition as well. The game has noticeably reduced latency issues compared to Halo PC.

Community[edit]

Several modding communities have emerged since the advent of Halo Custom Edition. One of the most prominent modding community website is halomaps.org which has the most updated multiplayer custom maps. Members of the modding community often discuss about user-created content and explores the need of "room for improvement", with several others providing tutorials to guide new members to modding and to share their findings of tinkering with the Halo engine with the rest of the members. The modding community contribute their custom content in various projects, ranging from a production of machinima to development a single-player campaign and recreation of multiplayer maps from newer Halo titles and from other entertainment titles.

External links[edit]

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List of games in the Halo franchise
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*Asterisks indicate upcoming releases
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