After an imposed hiatus the Halo 2 Vista website is once again updating files.  For those of you wondering (or care) why we were not updating files for quite some time it was due to a lightning strike that damaged many of the desktops in our office including the test platform we used for testing Halo 2 Vista maps.  With the down economy and the cost and time for the replacements we needed for our business we had to hold off replacing the test station.  “So why not load H2V on one of the replacement machines” you ask.  It is because we do not allow game software to be run on our development machines. Period. When you run a business you will understand why.

In any case we have replaced the test station and are now updating the website.  However I am sorely disappointed in the lack of maps that have been created  I would have expected a huge pile of maps but there are less than 2 dozen in all that need to be put online. I have gone through the first dozen and will be getting to the next batch in a day or so.  So map makers get busy. Or if have or you know of maps that are not in the archive be sure to upload them.

When designing a map for the Halo 2 for Windows Vista game it is important to include the settings and object placement for the Oddball game type. That means placing the Oddball in the map. I know you are wondering why I say this so let me explain.

Bungie was kind enough to include the "Oddball glitch" in the Halo 2 Vista game. The glitch allows you a method of discarding your weapons and removing the first person hands and weapons from the screen.  When you take a screenshot, the [F11] key, the screenshot is written to the drive without the HUD interface and if you have no weapons without the first person hands. So you get a clean unobstructed view of the scene.

Here at Halo Maps we are in the process of developing a more extensive image gallery of the maps for Halo 2 Vista and will be taking many more screenshots to show off the design of user created maps. Having high-resolution screenshots without first person hands will allow us to better show off the designs of the maps.

The Oddball Glitch:  
Start an Oddball game with the Plasma Pistol as your primary weapon and "None" as your secondary weapon.

Overcharge the Plasma Pistol by holding down the trigger. Then, with the gun still charged, pick up the Oddball. Next, drop the Oddball. Due to this glitch, you will actually drop your Plasma Pistol as well.