Editing Cut Halo 3 levels
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===Guardian Forest=== | ===Guardian Forest=== | ||
{{Main|Guardian Forest}} | {{Main|Guardian Forest}} | ||
'''Guardian Forest''', also known as <code>080_forest</code> was a cut level{{Ref/Site|Id=IGN|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/966/966319p1.html|Site=IGN|Page=GDC 09: The Halo 3 Level You Never Played}} set between ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]'' and ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl7Ke1ULgRs|Site=YouTube|Page=Halo 3 - Cut Campaign Levels DISCOVERED!}}. The level was set in a large forest on [[Installation 00]] and was to feature a new enemy, the Guardian.{{Ref/Site|Id=GDC|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.gdcvault.com/browse/gdc-09/play/1284|Site=GDC Vault|Page=Building Your Airplane While Flying: Production at Bungie}}{{Ref/Site|Id=Powerpoint|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://downloads.bungie.net/presentations/gdc_bungieproduction_march2009.pptx|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Building Your Airplane While Flying: Production at Bungie|Detail=Original presentation download}} | '''Guardian Forest''', also known as <code>080_forest</code> was a cut level{{Ref/Site|Id=IGN|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/966/966319p1.html|Site=IGN|Page=GDC 09: The Halo 3 Level You Never Played}} set either between ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]'' and ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl7Ke1ULgRs|Site=YouTube|Page=Halo 3 - Cut Campaign Levels DISCOVERED!}} or after ''The Covenant'' but before ''[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]''. The level was set in a large forest on [[Installation 00]] and was to feature a new enemy, the Guardian.{{Ref/Site|Id=GDC|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.gdcvault.com/browse/gdc-09/play/1284|Site=GDC Vault|Page=Building Your Airplane While Flying: Production at Bungie}}{{Ref/Site|Id=Powerpoint|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://downloads.bungie.net/presentations/gdc_bungieproduction_march2009.pptx|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Building Your Airplane While Flying: Production at Bungie|Detail=Original presentation download}} | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:H3_GuardianForestPaperSketch.jpeg|Early paper sketch titled "Guardian Forest". | File:H3_GuardianForestPaperSketch.jpeg|Early paper sketch titled "Guardian Forest". | ||
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===090_alpine=== | ===090_alpine=== | ||
'''alpine''', known as <code>090_alpine</code> in the game files, is a cut campaign mission viewable in the ''Halo 3'' game files due to the release of the ''[[Halo 3 Mod Tools]]''. The folder itself contains no files of particular note, but the name itself reveals several details. The name ''alpine'' describes the kind of terrain the mission was intended to have - perfectly matching the landscapes found in the final game level of [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]] - itself known as <code>100_citadel</code>. The <code>100</code> designation clashes with another cut level, <code>100_forecity</code>, due to the fact that <code>090_alpine</code> and <code>100_forecity</code> were combined to become <code>100_citadel</code>.{{Ref/Twitter|dmiller360|1498175220737196032|Dan Miller|Quote=Alpine and Forerunner City become ‘The Covenant’ if I recall correctly.|D=28|M=02|Y=2022}} This process was done fairly early on in development.{{Ref/Twitter|dmiller360|1498411926853865475|Dan Miller|Quote=I’m surprised we shipped those scripts at all. I worked on ForeCity but barely. We cut those early.|D=28|M=02|Y=2022}} | '''alpine''', known as <code>090_alpine</code> in the game files, is a cut campaign mission viewable in the ''Halo 3'' game files due to the release of the ''[[Halo 3 Mod Tools]]''. The folder itself contains no files of particular note, but the name itself reveals several details. The name ''alpine'' describes the kind of terrain the mission was intended to have - perfectly matching the landscapes found in the final game level of [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]] - itself known as <code>100_citadel</code>. The <code>100</code> designation clashes with another cut level, <code>100_forecity</code>, due to the fact that <code>090_alpine</code> and <code>100_forecity</code> were combined to become <code>100_citadel</code>.{{Ref/Twitter|dmiller360|1498175220737196032|Dan Miller|Quote=Alpine and Forerunner City become ‘The Covenant’ if I recall correctly.|D=28|M=02|Y=2022}} This process was done fairly early on in development.{{Ref/Twitter|dmiller360|1498411926853865475|Dan Miller|Quote=I’m surprised we shipped those scripts at all. I worked on ForeCity but barely. We cut those early.|D=28|M=02|Y=2022}} | ||
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File:H3 CovenantBridgeConcept.jpg|Concept art of a bridge that did not make the finalized level. | File:H3 CovenantBridgeConcept.jpg|Concept art of a bridge that did not make the finalized level. | ||
File:H3 Ark Warthog Concept.jpg|Early concept art of the level's closure. | File:H3 Ark Warthog Concept.jpg|Early concept art of the level's closure. | ||
File:H3 TheCovenant Storyboard | File:H3 CitadelConcept.jpg|Early concept art of the Citadel. | ||
File:H3 TheCovenant Storyboard 6.jpg|An early storyboard depicting an alternate High Charity crash sequence intended for alpine. | File:H3 TheCovenant Storyboard 4.jpg|An early [[Halo 3 storyboards|storyboard]] depicting an alternate [[High Charity]] crash sequence, possibly intended for alpine. | ||
File:H3 TheCovenant Storyboard 5.jpg|An early storyboard depicting an alternate High Charity crash sequence, possibly intended for alpine. | |||
File:H3 TheCovenant Storyboard 6.jpg|An early storyboard depicting an alternate High Charity crash sequence, possibly intended for alpine. | |||
</gallery> | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:H3_AlpinePaperSketch.jpeg|Early paper sketch titled "Alpine". | File:H3_AlpinePaperSketch.jpeg|Early paper sketch titled "Alpine". | ||
File:H3_BarrierDesignDoc.jpeg|Digital design document titled "5.1 - Barrier". | File:H3_BarrierDesignDoc.jpeg|Digital design document titled "5.1 - Barrier". | ||
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===100_forecity=== | ===100_forecity=== | ||
{{Main| | {{Main|The Lost City}} | ||
The level in the Mod Tools files referred to as <code>100_forecity</code> likely corresponds with [[Forerunner City]], a map developed by [[Paul Russel]] for the purposes of experimenting with [[Forerunner]] architectural design. Although described by Russell and [[Vic DeLeon]] as a map primarily used to demonstrate new technologies for the [[Xbox 360]] and [[Halo 3 Engine|new engine]], designer [[Dan Miller]] is also on record as mentioning that he was assigned as a designer on this level - indicating it was at one point intended to be a playable level space.{{Ref/Site|Id=NeoGAFDan1|URL=https://www.neogaf.com/threads/halo-ot14-they-call-it-halo.507989/page-356#post-47803018|Site=NeoGAF|Page=Halo - OT14 - They call it Halo|Quote=Developer Insight #9 Everyone here remembers the concept art for Forerunner City, right? Bungie cut that in part because, when they went through the concept art, they felt like they would have to give away too much about the Forerunners. Dan was originally assigned to this level and Guardian Forest.|Quotee=Dan Miller|D=10|M=10|Y=2021}} | The level in the Mod Tools files referred to as <code>100_forecity</code> likely corresponds with [[Forerunner City]], a map developed by [[Paul Russel]] for the purposes of experimenting with [[Forerunner]] architectural design. Although described by Russell and [[Vic DeLeon]] as a map primarily used to demonstrate new technologies for the [[Xbox 360]] and [[Halo 3 Engine|new engine]], designer [[Dan Miller]] is also on record as mentioning that he was assigned as a designer on this level - indicating it was at one point intended to be a playable level space.{{Ref/Site|Id=NeoGAFDan1|URL=https://www.neogaf.com/threads/halo-ot14-they-call-it-halo.507989/page-356#post-47803018|Site=NeoGAF|Page=Halo - OT14 - They call it Halo|Quote=Developer Insight #9 Everyone here remembers the concept art for Forerunner City, right? Bungie cut that in part because, when they went through the concept art, they felt like they would have to give away too much about the Forerunners. Dan was originally assigned to this level and Guardian Forest.|Quotee=Dan Miller|D=10|M=10|Y=2021}} | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:H3_ForeCity_DesignDoc_1.jpg|Early paper sketch titled "Forerunner City". | File:H3_ForeCity_DesignDoc_1.jpg|Early paper sketch titled "Forerunner City". | ||
File:H3_ForeCity_DesignDoc_2.jpg|Digital design document titled "6.1 - Forerunner City". | File:H3_ForeCity_DesignDoc_2.jpg|Digital design document titled "6.1 - Forerunner City". | ||
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==Multiplayer maps== | ==Multiplayer maps== | ||
A number of multiplayer maps were considered for inclusion in ''Halo 3'', including several that did not make the final cut. Notably, the maps "Wall of Cotton" and "Shaft" do not match any known development names for released multiplayer maps, nor fit the theme of any released in the final game | A number of multiplayer maps were considered for inclusion in ''Halo 3'', including several that did not make the final cut. Notably, the maps "Wall of Cotton" and "Shaft" do not match any known development names for released multiplayer maps, nor fit the theme of any released in the final game. The document also shows remakes of the maps [[Hang 'Em High]], [[Blood Gulch]] and [[Lockout]] as considered for inclusion - the latter of which eventually making its way into the game as [[Blackout]].{{Ref/Reuse|Hoberman}} | ||
In the ''Halo 3'' component of ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'', a number of seemingly-leftover <code>.mapinfo</code> files were removed from the game at some point during the [[flight]]ing process. These maps contain the aforementioned "shaft", alongside | In the ''Halo 3'' component of ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'', a number of seemingly-leftover <code>.mapinfo</code> files were removed from the game at some point during the [[flight]]ing process. These maps contain the aforementioned "shaft", alongside some presently-unknown maps referenced as "volcano", "landslide", "damn" and "beachhead". The files also reference maps named "warthog_inc" and "pump_haus", discussed in-detail further down this page. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:H3_Maps_Documentation.jpg|A list of maps intended for inclusion in ''Halo 3'' as of the end of pre-production.{{Ref/Reuse|Hoberman}} | File:H3_Maps_Documentation.jpg|A list of maps intended for inclusion in ''Halo 3'' as of the end of pre-production.{{Ref/Reuse|Hoberman}} | ||
File:H3 Steam CutMaps.png|A selection of the .mapinfo files removed from ''The Master Chief Collection''. | File:H3 Steam CutMaps.png|A selection of the .mapinfo files removed from ''The Master Chief Collection''. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:H3 Gauntlet Sketch.png|A sketch of Gauntlet's layout. | File:H3 Gauntlet Sketch.png|A sketch of Gauntlet's layout. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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File:H3 Vortex Screenshot.jpg|A [[Cut Halo 3 weapons#Vortex|Vortex equipment]] on Pump Haus. | File:H3 Vortex Screenshot.jpg|A [[Cut Halo 3 weapons#Vortex|Vortex equipment]] on Pump Haus. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Warthog Inc=== | ===Warthog Inc=== | ||
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File:H3 WarthogInc PrePro Screenshot 1.jpg|A screenshot of Warthog Inc close to the end of ''Halo 3'' pre-production, shared by Max Hoberman on Twitter in 2023.{{Ref/Twitter|MaxHoberman|1644844142428672003|Max Hoberman|Quote=Let's play another game. What's this? No cheating.|D=11|M=04|Y=2023}} | File:H3 WarthogInc PrePro Screenshot 1.jpg|A screenshot of Warthog Inc close to the end of ''Halo 3'' pre-production, shared by Max Hoberman on Twitter in 2023.{{Ref/Twitter|MaxHoberman|1644844142428672003|Max Hoberman|Quote=Let's play another game. What's this? No cheating.|D=11|M=04|Y=2023}} | ||
File:H3 WarthogInc PrePro Screenshot 2.jpg|A screenshot of Warthog Inc close to the end of ''Halo 3'' pre-production, shared by Max Hoberman on Twitter in 2023.{{Ref/Reuse|HobermanHogInc}} | File:H3 WarthogInc PrePro Screenshot 2.jpg|A screenshot of Warthog Inc close to the end of ''Halo 3'' pre-production, shared by Max Hoberman on Twitter in 2023.{{Ref/Reuse|HobermanHogInc}} | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Development and testing levels== | |||
===The Lost City=== | |||
{{Main|The Lost City}} | |||
'''The Lost City''' was a visual look-development level.{{Ref/Reuse|picasa}} The level was based around the idea of a [[Forerunner]] [[city]], composed of a single building.<ref>[https://twitter.com/Dr_Abominable/status/732109307529986048 ''Paul Russel on Twitter'':] ''Thanks! I wanted to get past our current notion of cities, instead of individual buildings, city is a single building.''</ref> The space had grown immense in size.<ref name="picasa">[https://picasaweb.google.com/114253662089061571624/Halo3TheLostCity#5573889624080394914 ''Picasa'': Paul Russel > Halo 3: The Lost City] (defunct, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160413070942/https://picasaweb.google.com/114253662089061571624/Halo3TheLostCity Archive])</ref> An art pass was done on the level in [[2005 (real world)|2005]] before it was cut.<ref name="DeLeonpics">[https://twitter.com/vicdeleon/status/1250139051476144128 ''Vic DeLeon on Twitter'':] ''So here's three shots taken in-game wayyy back in 2005 running a version of the #Halo 2.5-3 engine. The idea was to design an abandoned Forerunner "living space" with courtyard, and fallen into disrepair. @Dr_Abominable made the original structures and I modified, added entropy''</ref> | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:TheLostCity.jpg|The outside of the map's third iteration.<ref name="trace">[https://twitter.com/Dr_Abominable/status/732118079027613696 ''Paul Russel on Twitter'':] ''That's a trace of a screenshot I took of one of the concepts. I think version 3 of a city.''</ref> | |||
File:H3 TheLostCity Courtyard 3.jpg|An art pass version of the map.{{Ref/Reuse|DeLeonpics}} | |||
</gallery> | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
{{Ref/Sources}} | {{Ref/Sources}} |