Editing Anchor Point

{{Status|NonCanon}}
{{Not canon}}
{{Multiplayer map infobox
|name=Anchor Point
|image=[[File:H2 AnchorPoint Screenshot 1.jpg|300px]]
|game=''[[Halo 2]]'' {{C|Cut}}
|map=
|location=[[Threshold gas mine]]
|terrain=Forerunner gas mine
|symmetry=Symmetrical
|playernumber=2v2{{Ref/Twitter|Id=2v2|vicdeleon|1193357225806327808|Vic DeLeon|Quote=2v2, 4 banshees. Small map.|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}}
|gametypes=*[[Slayer]]
}}
'''Anchor Point'''{{Ref/Twitter|Id=anchor|vicdeleon|1193356423062675458|Vic DeLeon|Quote=Ok ok I’m sorry, here’s one of four shots of the never-released #Halo2 map we called #AnchorPoint|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}} is a [[Cut Halo 2 levels|cut multiplayer map]] created during the development of ''[[Halo 2]]''.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=vic1|vicdeleon|1193284446016815104|Vic DeLeon|Quote=So, I’m on the fence here. Would today be a good day for me to finally post shots of a #Halo2 MP map I made back in ‘04 that was completely rejected? I had cobbled it together in a week and it’s definitely not pretty (Also it played like crap).|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}}

==Setting==
{{Main|Threshold gas mine}}
Anchor Point would have been set in and around the gas mines of the gas giant [[Threshold]], encountered by the player during the campaign missions [[The Arbiter]] and [[The Oracle]] and the multiplayer map [[Colossus (map)|Colossus]]. The level would have been set around a camp set up by [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction]]. The three support cables hanging from the structure encountered in the campaign served as a skeleton support structure for the level layout, a temporary construction framework resurrected as an outpost by Sesa's troops and cobbled together with nearby debris.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=vic2|vicdeleon|1193336647498137600|Vic DeLeon|Quote=Ok so the shots are from an MP map test nicknamed Anchor Point, or Vic’s crazy Banshee duel. The fiction about the level: it was a temporary construction framework resurrected as a Heretic outpost for Sesa ‘Refumee’s fighters prior to taking over the facility directly above.|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}}{{Ref/Twitter|Id=vic3|vicdeleon|1193337960411713536|Vic DeLeon|Quote=The suspension cables coming from the facility above served as a skeleton support structure for the level’s layout. The idea was the Heretics cobbled together some temp platforms and walkways from nearby debris in preparation for the incursion|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}} The view above the map would have been the gas mine facility itself, while the view below would be the swirling vortex of Threshold's atmosphere.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=vic4|vicdeleon|1193338674638774272|Vic DeLeon|Quote=The view above was the facility, and below was the swirling vortex of the gas giant Threshold. I’m gonna do a load of laundry now but y’all keep at it|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}}

==Production notes==
Anchor Point was developed for ''Halo 2'', cobbled together in about a week.{{Ref/Reuse|vic1}} The map only reached one step after the initial block-out, with temporary textures, UV unwraps and lighting but no proper art pass.{{Ref/Reuse|UV}} It was intended as a small map for only four players. This 2v2 map would focus primarily on [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee]] dogfighting rather than conventional vehicle and infantry gameplay{{Ref/Reuse|2v2}}, though larger scale was tried out.{{Ref/Twitter|vicdeleon|1193378707525652480|Vic DeLeon|Quote=2v2, 4 banshees. We tried bigger but eeeesh not good.|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}} The map was symmetrical, featuring four outer platforms and one multi-level centre area. One iteration of the level had [[teleporter]]s, though they were removed as they "weren't good". Each of the four platforms would have a single Banshee spawn, and the centre platform would have a [[beam rifle]] spawn - the large "tube" connecting the outer and centre platforms was a "not good" experience for infantry players due to the long sightlines and lack of cover, with grenades employed heavily during playtesting. These tube areas were intended to provide cover from Banshees in the sky, though meant experiences running into an enemy player weren't fun.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=greenskull|ExGUloDzkEw|Greenskull|UNRELEASED HALO 2 MAP: Anchor Point|Detail=DeLeon provided some additional notes for this video}}

The map was cut before release as it "played like crap", and the developers at [[Bungie]] found the level to not be very fun, as the game's Banshee combat was "messy".{{Ref/Reuse|vic1}}{{Ref/Twitter|Id=vic5|vicdeleon|1193361790312124417|Vic DeLeon|Quote=It wasn’t a lot of fun for most people in the studio. Also, multiple banshee combat in MP was messy.|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}} Multiple types of gamemode were tested including [[energy sword]]s-only and snipers-only. However, DeLeon believes the map could have had potential for [[Capture the Flag]] gamemodes, if they were able to get round to setting up proper bases.{{Ref/Reuse|greenskull}} The map was later revealed by artist [[Vic DeLeon]] on Twitter on November 10, [[2019]] for the 15th anniversary of ''Halo 2''.

The map and its files are still playable, with [[343 Industries]]' [[Jeff Easterling]] having played on the level fairly recently (as of November 2019).{{Ref/Twitter|GrimBrotherOne|1193445095674011648|Jeff Easterling|Quote=I actually played this not too long ago lol.|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}} DeLeon also has at least several test maps including a jungle, [[Old Mombasa]] and an [[Forerunner City|abandoned Forerunner city]].{{Ref/Twitter|vicdeleon|1193445605109972992|Vic DeLeon|Quote=It’s still in the archive, along with all my Old Mombasa and Jungle tests!|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}}{{Ref/Twitter|vicdeleon|1193445872027045888|Vic DeLeon|Quote=and the abandoned Forerunner City|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H2_AnchorPoint_Screenshot_2.jpg|At this stage in development, Anchor point only had temporary textures, UV unwraps and lighting.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=UV|vicdeleon|1193373878858305538|Vic DeLeon|Quote=Two more shots of the never-released #Halo2 map we called #AnchorPoint. These show the platforms and walkways between the main center base. The UV’s, textures, materials, and lighting were temporary. This was one step after block-in. One more gameplay pic coming later.|D=10|M=11|Y=2019}}
File:H2_AnchorPoint_Screenshot_3.jpg|At this stage in development, Anchor point only had temporary textures, UV unwraps and lighting.{{Ref/Reuse|UV}}
File:H2_AnchorPoint_Screenshot_4.jpg||A Banshee on Anchor Point.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

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