Pre-Xbox Halo
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Before Xbox, and before the release of Halo: Combat Evolved, there was a game that was originally announced for the Mac and the PC as a 3rd-person shooter.[1] The game development time was from around 1998 to the release of Halo: Combat Evolved, originating as a Myth-style strategy game before turning into a third person shooter, and finally being retooled as a straight-up FPS for the Xbox console. As the game evolved, several vehicles and weapons were cut and others had complete overhauls. Below are some examples of lost or heavily modified game play items.
RTS Gameplay
In the beginning stages of the Halo series, it was first going to be an RTS game for the Mac. Some of the known elements of the early render include the:
- Heavy Trooper - Infantry units and early iteration of the SPARTAN-IIs.
- Toolbar - Used to select, command, etc.
- Groundblast - (unknown, most likely scenery.)
- Zedsu - A tank.
- Bunker - A structure.
- Scoutcar A.K.A Hummer - Early Version of the Warthog.
- Horseshoecrab tank - A Tank. Its design was later reused for the Seraph.
- Alien Tank - Tank of the opposing forces and early iteration of the Wraith.
- Mowitser - Probable howitzer cannon due to the name.
- Aliens - The precursors to the Covenant in the final game.
- Starfighter - An aerial vehicle.
- Propane or Gas Tanks - Scenery.
- Ghost - Early iteration of the Ghost RAV.
- Other Vehicles - Vehicles similar in appearance to Halo Wars Wolverine, Rhino and the cut Cougar.
- Elephant Precursor - The precursor to the Elephant.
- Sharquoi - Possibly as a Covenant or wildlife unit.[2]
Pre-Halo features
Vehicles
Helicopter
In the early renders of the Halo series, it was originally planned to have a helicopter within the game.
Watercraft
Known as "Dual-carrot craft" and Regular inflated raft, it was cut from the pre-production of the game.
Stealth Tank
A tank model found in the early versions of Halo, the Stealth Tank (named the "Husk" in-game) was described as having a low profile with counter vented fire stabilization.[3]
Transport Warthog and Mongoose Precursor
Presented in the Evolution of Halo Part 1, they are the Warthog and ATV that lacks mounted armaments for defense. Both later were planned to be introduced to Halo 2 but dropped and finally added into Halo 3.
Warthog Precursor
The design precursor to Warthog LRV
Elephant Precursor
A large vehicle with a crane designed to be more like a huge Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC). This vehicle was later introduced in Halo 3 as the Elephant as well as being included in Halo Wars.
Spectre
The Spectre was originally designed to be in Halo Combat Evolved, but was cut due to balance issues. It was included in Halo 2. The mounted Shade turret, however made it into the final version of the production.
Weapons
Early renders of common guns found in most of the Halo games
- The Assault Rifle, called MA-5 ICW/30mm COL[4], which had the ability to fire grenades, though the grenade launcher was swapped out for a flash light in Halo's final build.
- Flamethrower, which was included in PC edition of Combat Evolved and brought back for Halo 3.
- Early version of the M6 series pistol, called the 60 Magnum Mega Class M4a.[5]
- Precursor to the SRS99.
- An early iteration of the shotgun.
- A Submachine Gun, which was introduced later into Halo 2, was to replace the assault rifle.
- Anti-Aircraft Missile Launcher, which had a spiritual successor in the form of the missile pod.
- Anti-Armour rocket Launcher, which saw use in all Halo games, though heavy changes have occurred.
Spear Gun
Gun that is meant to shoot at underwater enemies.
Gatling Gun
The Gatling Gun was a weapon originally designed for the Pre-Xbox Halo Combat Evolved. It seemed to be a hand-held version of the M41 LAAG. It would appear that the weapon has finally come to light in the form of Halo 3's AIE-486H.
There have been several mods, using Halo Custom Edition, that have integrated the Gatling Gun into the game. Most if not all of these mods use the Warthog's turret model, separated from the base and the main vehicle.
Machete
- Main article: Pattern-2 Composite Sword
A machete was proposed in the pre-production of Halo: Combat Evolved, but later disposed.
Covenant Sniper Rifle
The 'Covenant Sniper Rifle' was a early weapon that was deleted from Halo Combat Evolved. It was cut, once again, for balance issues, but it vaguely resembles Halo 2's Beam Rifle, its spiritual successor.
Excavator
In the video, the Spartan is shown holding a Covenant weapon that was the design inspiration for the Mauler.
Weapon Storage
In the early versions of Halo, the secondary weapon the player obtained would be placed on their back. This feature was finally introduced in Halo 3.
Other Pre-Halo features
Broken Halo
- ""It's a little prelude to what happens in the future.""
- — Bungie employee
In the early stages of the game, Halo was designed to be in broken form, only attached by strands of skeletal supports.
Blind Wolf
A rideable creature found in the pre-production.
Elites
An Elite model circa 1999. Notice the mandibles are more dinosaur-like, lacking the present four-pronged jaw in the actual Halo games. You can see what look like bones and ribs showing. Also, note the Elite on the right, in the background, is holding something that looks like an older Fuel Rod Gun model.
Engineers
Engineers were seen to have been implemented into the game but were later cut from Halo: CE.
Old HUD
The Heads Up Display originally had a different design, incorporating the Marathon logo.
Rock Worm
A worm creature with an appendage like a rock in the head.[6]
Gallery
- Cgw Cover.jpg
Image sent to CGW magazine 1999.
- Halo 072199.jpg
The first ever official Halo screen 1999.
- Halo chief 1099.jpg
- Pre Halo MC with MA5.jpg
MA5B Assault Rifle with a grenade launcher attached.
The original Needler.
- Speargun.jpg
Spear Gun.
- Launcher2.jpg
Surface to Air Missile Launcher.
The original Shotgun.
- Pre Halo Machette.jpg
Pre Halo Machete.
- Pre Halo Minigun.jpg
Pre Halo Minigun.
- EarlyHalo.png
A weapon labeled "Pattern-2 Composite Sword".
