Editing Cut Halo: Combat Evolved weapons

{{Title|Cut ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' weapons}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{GameFiles}}
{{Series/Cut/HCE}}
{{Quote|At that time we were just like "what if we did this?" and we built it, got it in the game and it just sat there. Some of them made it into the final game, some of them sat there and withered on the vine.|[[Marcus Lehto]] discussing the weapons found in 2000-era builds of ''Combat Evolved''.{{Ref/Reuse|Xperia}}}}
During the [[Development of Halo: Combat Evolved|development]] of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', the game went through many different styles including a [[Real-time strategy|strategy game]], a third-person shooter and a [[first-person shooter]]. Throughout these iterations, many different '''weapons were cut''' from the game, some of which presenting notably different design styles from those found in the final [[2001]] release. Most known cut weapons are from the [[1999 (real world)|1999]]-[[2000]] era builds of ''Combat Evolved'', during which time the game was intended to be a third-person shooter. However, a small handful from the FPS era are known.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=Evolution|dydfehQBaGE|ForumsExtremeDotCom|Evolution of Halo Part 2: Pre-Xbox 1999 Version to 2000 Demo}}

At the time of the game's development, [[Bungie]] had a creative attitude to weapons creation - weapons were often designed with a question of what could be done, with details of how it might work in-game left to be figured out later. Due to this, there is no guarantee most of these weapons would have ever made it into a final build.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=Xperia|JfJCQbJA3v0|HiddenXperia|TALKING TO MARCUS LEHTO (Co-Creator of Halo) ABOUT HALO INFINITE, joining 343, Bungie's Halo 4 +MORE}} However, the ideas or designs for many of them would later make their way into subsequent ''Halo'' entries, in particular ''[[Halo 2]]''.

Of particular note is the timeframe at which ''Halo'' started development. The [[Pre-Xbox Halo|initial RTS]] that would later become ''Halo'' begun development in [[1997 (real world)|1997]] under the codename "Armor", and as such many of the early designs for human weapons and equipment bear strong visual similarities from real-world Cold War weapons programs active in the 1990s and late 1980s. These include the [[Wikipedia:Objective Individual Combat Weapon|Objective Individual Combat Weapon]], [[Wikipedia:AAI CAWS|AAI CAWS]] and [[Wikipedia:Heckler & Koch HK CAWS|H&K CAWS]], [[Wikipedia:Denel NTW-20|Denel NTW-20]], [[Wikipedia:Steyr IWS 2000|Steyr IWS 2000]],  [[Wikipedia:Walther WA 2000|Walther WA 2000]] and others. Additional inspirations for human weaponry were based on popular science fiction media of the 1980s and 1990s - particularly 1986's ''Aliens'' and 1997's ''Starship Troopers'' - the latter of which released the same year as ''Halo'' beginning its development.

==Human==
===Anti-air rocket launcher===
Referred to in-game as the '''SPNKR 108 SAM'''{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Names|game_fabricator|1388530710160437248|Marcus Lehto|Quote=Some were asking about all the weapon names in this old #Halo PC build.|D=17|M=7|Y=2021}}, this weapon was described as being a rocket launcher intended for use against aircraft, while the standard rocket launcher was intended for anti-vehicle usage.{{Ref/Reuse|Evolution}} A similar design was later concepted for ''Halo 3'' as the [[Cut Halo 3 weapons#G4H-DuSH|G4H-DuSH]], though was similarly cut. The [[M57 Pilum]] would later debut in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', bearing some broad similarities to this rocket launcher.

The name "''SPNKR 108 SAM''" presumably stands for "''SPNKR 108 Surface-to-Air Missile''".
<gallery>
File:PXH AARocket Screenshot 1.png|The rocket launcher.
File:PXH AARocket Screenshot 2.png|The front of the rocket launcher.
</gallery>

===Chaingun===
The chaingun is a tri-barrelled rotary cannon that could be held with two hands by the player. It was frequently seen in promotional material for the game including the first-ever screenshot released, though was ultimately cut. The concept was later revived with the [[AIE-486H machine gun]] in ''Halo 3''.
<gallery>
File:PXH FirstOfficial Screenshot.jpg|The first-ever screenshot released from ''Halo''.
File:PXH ChiefChaingunPose Screenshot 2.jpg|Master Chief wielding the chaingun.
File:PXH ChiefChaingunPose Screenshot.jpg|Another screenshot of the chaingun in use.
</gallery>

===Machete===
Labelled in-game as the '''Pattern-2 Composite Sword'''{{Ref/Reuse|Names}}, the machete was to be a human counterpard to the Covenant [[energy sword]].{{Ref/Twitter|game_fabricator|700529126734573569|Marcus Lehto|Quote=Here's an old one. Early Halo build. Did you know that the hilt on the back was originally a retractable sword?|D=17|M=7|Y=2021}} Early revisions of [[John-117]]'s armour had a port for the Machete to slot into.{{Ref/Twitter|game_fabricator|1413924069632659456|Marcuus Lehto|Quote=Some of you wanted to see a closer look at the early Master Chief's back design. He used to have a single hump backpack and lower back retractable sword. Also thought I'd run into the Macworld early Forerunner building.|D=17|M=7|Y=2021}} Althought the weapon was modelled and animated, it was never made functional as a weapon in-game.{{Ref/Twitter|game_fabricator|1414262662377082880|Marcus Lehto|Quote=It was never built as a real functional weapon, but was intended to be a good option for close melee combat.|D=17|M=7|Y=2021}} Although the machete was cut, it did live on in-game and in-lore as the [[Machete]] - a UNSC bladed weapon for use in jungle environments and found on all variations of the difficulty sigils for [[Normal]], [[Heroic]] and [[Legendary]] difficulties.
<gallery>
File:PXH MacheteSwordBattle Screenshot.jpg|The machete being wielded by the Master Chief in an early build of ''Halo''.
File:PXH Machete Screenshot 2.png|The machete being wielded by the player.
File:PXH Machete Screenshot 3.jpg|Another image of the machete.
File:PXH Machete Screenshot 1.png|An image showcasing the Pattern-2 Composite Sword.{{Ref/Twitter|game_fabricator|700542518488748032|Marcus Lehto|Quote=Here's a simple gif of the early Halo build|D=17|M=7|Y=2021}}
File:HCE John117 Early Concept.jpg|Early concept art of John-117, featuring the Pre-Xbox Halo machete.
File:HCE-Johnswordconcept.jpg|Later concept art of the sheathed sword.
File:TLJ Heroic Difficulty (Reach).png|The crossed machetes on the Heroic difficulty icon for ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.
</gallery>

===Spear gun===
Labelled in-game as the '''Lamprey Sub-Ed''', the spear gun was intended for underwater combat against sea creatures.{{Ref/Reuse|Evolution}} When fired, its projectiles would stick into enemies akin to those of the [[Needler]] and [[Paegaas Workshop Spiker]] in later games.{{Ref/Twitter|game_fabricator|1413919553638211590|Marcus Lehto|Quote=Here's a human weapon I forgot we prototyped in the 2000 Halo PC build. The Spear Gun. I like how the spears stick into targets! And wow, the early Elite was almost naked back then.|D=17|M=7|Y=2021}} The concept was revived in [[Halo Infinite]] with the [[Flaktura Workshop Skewer]].
<gallery>
File:PXH SpearGun Screenshot 1.png|The Spear Gun held by the player.
File:PXH_SpearGun_Screenshot_2.png|The Spear Gun reloading.
File:PXH_SpearGun_Screenshot_3.png|The fired spears impaled in an elite.
</gallery>

===Submachine gun===
The SMG (referred to in UI as the '''12.7mm MP-99 Para'''{{Ref/Reuse|Names}}) is an [[Wikipedia:Submachine gun|SMG]] originally slated to appear in ''Halo''. The weapon's concept was later revived in ''Halo 2'' as the [[M7 SMG]]. The SMG in the 1999-era builds sports a side-loaded magazine akin to a [[Wikipedia:Sten|Sten]], which holds 50 [[12.7x40mm|17.7]] rounds, with at least one spare.
<gallery>
File:PXH SMG Screenshot 1.png|The SMG being used by the player.
File:PXH ThirdPerson WeaponsEngineer.png|An early iteration of the SMG can be seen in this 1999-era UI.
</gallery>

==Covenant==
===Concussion gun===
The <code>c concussion gun</code> is another weapon found in the 2000-era builds of ''Combat Evolved''. The weapon appears to have a charge up before firing, and uses the [[M90 shotgun|Shotgun]] sound effect for firing (presumably as a placeholder).{{Ref/Reuse|CovGuns}} In later discussions, the weapon was jokingly referred to as the "drumkey".{{Ref/Reuse|Evolution}}
<gallery>
File:PXH ConcussionGun Screenshot 1.png|The player holding the concussion gun.
File:PXH_ConcussionGun_Screenshot_2.png|Holding the concussion gun in third-person view.
File:PXH_ConcussionGun_Screenshot_3.png|The concussion gun.
</gallery>

===Energy shield===
While not strictly a weapon, Sangheili wielding arm-mounted [[Energy shielding|shield]]-generating gauntlets akin to those [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|employed]] by [[Kig-Yar|Jackal]] infantry can be observed in concept art and screenshots. A [[Sangheili point defense gauntlet|similar device]] lives on in ''Halo'' canon.
<gallery>
File:HCE_Elite_Concept_3.png|Concept art of a Sangheili with a point defense gauntlet for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:Shieldandswordeq0.png|A [[Sangheili Major]] with an arm shield and energy sword in the [[Halo E3 2000 trailer|E3 2000 trailer]] for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
</gallery>

===Excavator===
The <code>c excavator</code> is another weapon found in the 2000-era builds, and jokingly referred to as the "boring device".{{Ref/Reuse|Evolution}} The Excavator has a tilted, rotating magazine near the front. The Excavator would eventually form the basis for the design of the [[Type-52 Mauler|Mauler]] in ''Halo 3''.{{Ref/Book|Id=AoH3|AoH3|Page=61}} Although labelled in-game as a Covenant weapon (using the <code>c_</code> prefix) and visually reminiscent of the alien designs, the weapon is claimed in ''[[The Art of Halo 3]]'' to have been intended for use by the UNSC.{{Ref/Reuse|AoH3}} It is unknown whether this was actually the case, or simply the case of the developers misremembering the facts in the intervening seven years.

The texture for the Excavator went on to be used as a placeholder texture for the Gravity Rifle and the Microwave Gun.
<gallery>
File:PXH Excavator Screenshot 1.png|The excavator held by the player.
File:PXH Excavator Screenshot 2.png|The Excavator.
File:PXH Excavator Screenshot 3.png|Holding the Excavator in third-person view.
File:PXH Excavator Screenshot 4.png|Firing the Excavator.
</gallery>

===Gravity rifle===
The gravity rifle can be found in the files for released builds of ''Combat Evolved'', though lacks textures, first-person models, animations or projectiles. The weapon can be enabled on some maps in ''[[Halo Custom Edition]]'' by using the command <code>cheat_all_weapons</code>. When firing, the weapon emits a bright light and produces flames on its target, and is extremely accurate.

Data gathered from the game files of ''Combat Evolved'' reveal a few more details about this weapon;
*It has the maximum rate-of-fire possible in ''Combat Evolved'' - essentially acting as a beam weapon similarly to the [[sentinel beam]].
*The weapon has a magazine set up, with a 200 round capacity before needing to reload, and capable of carrying 200 spare rounds.
*The weapon has no additional properties such as spread or magnification set up.

In this manner, the gravity rifle appears to be somewhat of a spiritual successor to the microwave gun featured in the 1999 builds, and somewhat of a precursor to the [[Cut Halo 2 weapons#Disintegrator|Disintegrator]] later cut from ''Halo 2''.
<gallery>
File:HCE_BattleCreek_GravityRifle.jpg|A Spartan employing the Gravity Rifle on [[Battle Creek]].
File:HCE GravityRifle Screenshot 1.jpg|A closer look at the Gravity Rifle.
</gallery>

===Gravity wrench===
Appearing to function akin to a grenade launcher, the gravity wrench features two prongs which charge up and generate an energy ball between them, which is then launched on a projectile arc.{{Ref/Reuse|Evolution}}
<gallery>
File:PXH GravityWrench Screenshot 1.png|The player holding the Gravity Wrench.
</gallery>

===Microwave gun===
The weapon labelled <code>c microwave gun</code> is found in the 2000-era builds of ''Combat Evolved''. The weapon is held in two hands akin to holding the turrets found in ''[[Halo 3]]''-onward, and emits an orange beam-like particle effect while firing.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=CovGuns|game_fabricator|1413279036160176131|Marcus Lehto|Quote=I found these Covenant weapon prototypes in my old 2000 Halo PC build that you might like. c concussion gun, c excavator, c particle beam rifle, c microwave gun. I like the meter cooldown on the concussion gun. The microwave gun would have been hilarious.|D=17|M=7|Y=2021}} When asked about this weapon, Marcus Lehto indicated he did not remember what purpose the weapon had, or if it had even been given one when it was first implemented.{{Ref/Reuse|Xperia}}
<gallery>
File:PXH_MicrowaveGun_Screenshot_1.png|The microwave gun.
File:PXH_MicrowaveGun_Screenshot_2.png|The microwave gun as held by the player.
File:PXH_MicrowaveGun_Screenshot_3.png|Firing the microwave gun.
</gallery>

===Particle beam rifle===
Found in the 2000-era builds and labelled <code>c particle beam rifle</code> (also referred to as the "alien sniper rifle"{{Ref/Reuse|Evolution}}), little is known of this weapon.{{Ref/Reuse|CovGuns}} It presumably fulfills a role of a Covenant [[Sniper rifle (disambiguation)|sniper rifle]], and presumably evolved into the [[particle beam rifle]] weapons later included in ''Halo 2'' and subsequent entries.
<gallery>
File:PXH ParticleBeamRifle Screenshot 1.png|The particle beam rifle held by the player.
File:PXH ParticleBeamRifle Screenshot 2.png|The particle beam rifle in the third-person view.
File:PXH_ParticleBeamRifle_Screenshot_3.png|The particle beam rifle.
File:HCE SpecialPurposeSniper Concept 1.jpg|Concept art for the special purpose sniper, a [[Cut Halo: Combat Evolved enemies|cut enemy]] which would have wielded the weapon.
</gallery>

===Covenant sniper rifle===
This weapon appears in a handful of promotional screenshots from around August 2000.{{Ref/Mag|Magazine=PC Gamer|Year=2000|Month=August|Issue=75|Page=17|Title=Scoop! HALO}} Little is known of the weapon, save that it was intended as a Covenant sniper weapon.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.bungie.net/SlideShow.aspx?Path=/games/Halo&Slideshow=PreXbox&Slide=51|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo: Pre-Xbox Slideshow|Quote=An Elite holding a Covenant sniper rifle
2000|D=11|M=12|Y=2004}}
<gallery>
File:PXH CovenantRifle Screenshot 1.jpg|The rifle being held by a Sangheili.
</gallery>

==Early weapon designs==
While ''Combat Evolved'' ultimately did ship with a diverse set of weapons, these final designs went through a large amount of iteration throughout the game's progression from strategy to shooter. This section covers the early iterations and radical redesigns that some of the weapons went through, before ending up at the versions ultimately found in the final release.
===Assault rifle===
Early revisions of the [[MA5B assault rifle]] seemingly take influence from a number of sources, including the [[marathongame:MA-75 Assault Rifle/Grenade Launcher|MA–75B assault rifle]] from the ''[[Marathon]]'' series and the [https://alienanthology.fandom.com/wiki/M41A_Pulse_Rifle|M41A Pulse Rifle] from ''Aliens'' - a film which ''Halo'' is heavily [[List of references to Aliens in the Halo series|based upon]]. Some of these early RTS and third-person era assault rifles also displayed obvious outward similarities to the [[Wikipedia:Objective Individual Combat Weapon|Objective Individual Combat Weapon]] (OICW) program which was active in the 1990s (around the time ''Halo'' began development) and the [https://starshiptroopers.fandom.com/wiki/Morita_Assault_Rifle Morita assault rifle] from 1997's ''Starship Troopers'' - the former of which likely inspired the MA5's in-universe designation "Individual Combat Weapon System" (ICWS), while the latter was similarly-influential on the ''Halo'' series as ''Aliens''. This early OICW-inspired design can be seen firing an underbarrel [[grenade launcher]].

The assault rifle design would gradually evolve throughout the rest of 1999 into a design more familiar to fans of the final game. PC Gamer's October 1999 issue would run a piece showcasing an updated screenshot with an assault rifle bearing much heavier resemblance to the final iteration.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.bungie.org/pressscans/display.html?scan=pcgamerusoct99|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=Halo Press Scans|Detail=PC Gamer October 1999|D=06|M=04|Y=2022}} This version of the assault rifle has a black steel frame and green furniture, similar to the ''Aliens'' M41 rifle, and has the addition of a secondary magazine located in front of the trigger - presumably used to reload the grenade launcher.{{Ref/Mag|Magazine=PC Gamer|Year=1999|Month=December|Issue=77|Page=8-9|Title=Your First Look at HALO}} A version of the assault rifle later seen in the third-person builds of ''Halo'' boasted the name '''MA-5 ICW/30mm CGL''' (possibly standing for something akin to ''Model A-5 Individual Combat Weapon/30mm Caseless Grenade Launcher'').
<gallery>
File:HCE MA5B Concept.jpg|Early 1998-era concept art by [[Robert McLees]].
File:PXH MA5OICW Hologram Screenshot.jpg|A May 1999-era screenshot of the map room showcased in that year's [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] event, showcasing an assault rifle more overtly inspired by the OICW program.
File:PXH MA5OICW_GrenadeLauncher_Screenshot.jpg|The OICW-inspired rifle firing its grenade launcher.
File:HCE Marines Concept 2.png|1999 concept art by Shi Kai Wang - the Marines here showcase more recognisable designs for the assault rifle.
File:PXH CornerPeek.jpg|Master Chief using the 1999-era assault rifle.
File:PXH ThirdPersonAR.png|Master Chief using the assault rifle in the 1999-era builds of ''Halo''.
File:PXH Gamestar2000 Cover.jpg|The MA5B on the cover of ''Gamestar'' magazine in May 2000. By this time, the assault rifle resembled the final iteration in all but colour scheme - though still retains its secondary magazine.
File:HCE EarlyMarines Screenshot.jpg|A later iteration of the assault rifle can be seen wielded closer to mid-late 2000. In this iteration, the grenade launcher magazine has been removed, and the foregrip enlarged.
File:MA5B.png|The MA5B seen in the final game. 
</gallery>

===Shotgun===
The Shotgun can be first seen in 1999-era third-person builds, though little gameplay has been shown of it. In the HUD seen in these builds, the weapon is labelled the '''WSTE-M90 sacs''', named in reference to the [https://marathongame.fandom.com/wiki/WSTE-M5_Combat_Shotgun WSTE-M5 Combat Shotgun] featured in ''Marathon 2''. The WST name would later make its way into ''Halo'' canon with the lore given for the [[M90A shotgun]] in ''[[Halo 3]]'', with [[Weapon System Technologies]] manufacturing numerous pieces of equipment for the UNSC. The 1999-era shotgun held five shells in its magazine, with at least one extra magazine in reserve.

The shotgun would make a few minor changes between 1999 and 2000, predominantly graphical enhancements on the same basic design. From here, it would remain largely unchanged until final release in 2001 - save for a re-designation from the WSTE-M90 sacs to the [[M90 shotgun|M90 Close Assault Weapon System]] (CAWS). It is likely that the CAWS acronym was inspired by the real-world [[Wikipedia:AAI CAWS|AAI CAWS]] and [[Wikipedia:Heckler & Koch HK CAWS|H&K CAWS]] shotguns, both predominant during the 1980s and 1990s.
<gallery>
File:Prexbox shotty.png|The 1999-era shotgun.
File:PXH ThirdPerson WeaponsEngineer.png|An early iteration of the shotgun can be seen in this 1999-era UI.
File:HCE CGWCover.jpg|The shotgun in 2000.
File:HCE ShotgunEngineers Screenshot.jpg|2000-era Master Chief aiming the shotgun at an Engineer.
File:HCE_MarineShotgun.jpg|A Marine using the shotgun.
File:Shotgun2.jpg|Master Chief holding the 2000-era shotgun.
File:HCE 343 Guilty Spark Marine holding a M90.jpg|A Marine holding the shotgun in the final game.
</gallery>

===Sniper rifle===
Referred to in-game as the '''SWS99C-S2'''{{Ref/Reuse|Names}} (presumably standing for something akin to "''Sniper Weapon System 99C-Series 2''") and jokingly by developers as the "old shovel", this weapon was to be a bolt-action rifle featured in ''Halo''. The weapon appears to bear some resemblance to the real-world [[Wikipedia:Steyr IWS 2000|Steyr IWS 2000]] and the [[Wikipedia:Walther WA 2000|Walther WA 2000]]. In-game, the weapon could only fire one round before reloading. 

By 2000, the sniper rifle design had evolved massively from the "old shovel" rifle design to something more resembling the final game - based on the real-world [[Wikipedia:Denel NTW-20|Denel NTW-20]]. A 2011 GDC talk by [[Jaime Griesemer]] revealed the following from ''Halo''{{'}}s original design documentation (quoted verbatim);{{Ref/YouTube|8YJ53skc-k4|GDC|Changing the Time Between Shots for the Sniper Rifle from 0.5 to 0.7 Seconds for Halo 3|Time=831}}
;Sniper Rifle/ Digital Scope
*Long range, high penetration, high rate of fire with 5 round clip (but clip reloads slowly).
*Small contrail, very loud bang with huge flash and slowly dissipating smoke.
*Second trigger adjusts zoom level (exactly how TBD).
*Head shots kill anything man-sized except flood (these high-velocity bullets pass right through flood).

By the time of the final release, the sniper rifle would gain its magazine and a grey finish alongside general graphical improvements. The final canon name for the rifle is inspired by the original designation, now known as the [[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle]].
<gallery>
File:PXH BoltActionRifle Screenshot 1.png|The rifle being used by the player.
File:PXH ThirdPerson WeaponsEngineer.png|An early iteration of this sniper can be seen in this 1999-era UI.
File:PXH BoltActionRifle Screenshot 2.jpg|Master Chief using this sniper rifle.
File:PXH BoltActionRifle Screenshot 3.png|A view of the rifle in gameplay.
File:HCE_ThornBeastHunting_Screenshot.jpg|Master Chief using the 2000-era redesign to hunt [[Cut Halo: Combat Evolved enemies#Thorn beast|thorn beast]].
File:HCE EarlyMarines Screenshot.jpg|Marines in the 2000-era builds using the revised design.
</gallery>

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

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