Editing Cut Halo 3 levels

{{Status|RealWorld}}

{{GameFiles}}

{{Series/Cut/H3}}

During the [[Development of Halo 3|development of ''Halo 3'']], a number of levels were cut or changed dramatically.

===Flood Ship===

'''Flood Ship''', also known as <code>060_floodship</code> was a cut level set after ''[[Floodgate]]'' and taking place in the crashed [[Indulgence of Conviction|Flood ship]] in [[Voi]]. The original objective of the level was to detonate the ship's reactor and escape. However, due to time constraints and other development issues, much of this was cut and reworked into the final version of ''[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|GDC1}}{{Ref/Reuse|GDC2}}{{Ref/Twitter|dmiller360|1113434705133625344|Dan Miller|Quote=In floodgate you went into the covenant cruiser at the end, correct? Well that was the Cortana geometry. The Floodgate mission was much, much longer. There was original High Charity geometry made for the Cortana mission that was cut due to lack of time.|D=10|M=10|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Twitter|dmiller360|533780831513624576|Dan Miller|Quote=the old original geometry for cortana was cut- that was high charity geometry.|D=10|M=10|Y=2021}} Though it was present as a selectable level in the ''[[Halo 3 Alpha]]''. More detailed information about the level can be found [[Cortana (level)#Production notes|here]] and [[Floodgate#Production notes|here]].

In the end, in the idea of the playable Floodship space was conjoined onto ''Floodgate''; Objects used in that section of the level can still be found in the <code>060_floodship</code> folder in the ''[[Halo 3 Mod Tools]]''. The original objective of the level is still mentioned in the final version of ''Floodgate'' despite there being a different one: ''"Find the crashed Flood ship; overload its engine core."'' as stated by [[Miranda Keyes]].

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===Guardian Forest===

{{Main|Guardian Forest}}

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File:H3 GuardianForest Concept 1.jpg|A piece of concept art for the level.

File:H3 Guardian Concept 4.jpg|Concept art for the Guardian enemy.

===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}}

When the aforementioned Guardian Forest level was cut, the planned [[Hornet]] sections were transplanted into The Covenant{{Ref/Reuse|GDC}}{{Ref/Reuse|Powerpoint}}, indicating that this major restructuring likely occurred around the same time as - or because - of the dropping of Guardian Forest.

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File:H3 CovenantApproachConcept.jpg|Concept art of the Pelican approach at the level's start.

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.

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===100_forecity===

==Early campaign levels==

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File:MausoleumConcept.jpg|Concept art of John-117 looking at the Mausoleum of the Arbiter, as intended for this level.

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==Multiplayer maps==

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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''.

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File:H3 Gauntlet Sketch.png|A sketch of Gauntlet's layout.

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File:H3 MonkeyMountain Sketch.png|A sketch of Monkey Mountain's layout.

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===Warthog Inc===

The map internally codenamed "Warthog Inc" was focused on the [[Territories]] gametype, and one of the last maps cut from ''Halo 3''. The map was to be set in a location where the titular [[Warthog]] was built and tested, and was reported by Chris Carney as "playing really well"; consisting of a collection of five 1-2 storey buildings each containing a territory zone. The map also contained a Warthog "test track" which allowed the player to use vehicles in a medium-sized map, but made movement predictable as to keep them balanced versus infantry. The map was ultimately scrapped as it never hit an "amazing" level of gameplay.{{Ref/Reuse|PCG348}}

Interestingly, Warthog Inc was also included (albeit unplayable) in the files of the [[Halo 3 Beta|''Halo 3'' beta]]. Additionally, it seems that Warthog Inc's early blockout geometry can be seen being playtested by Bungie staff in the [[ViDoc]] [[Halo 3 ViDoc: Is Quisnam Protero Damno!|Is Quisnam Protero Damno!]]. In one shot, the level is seen selected in the [[custom game]] lobby, and the geometry shown matches the level icon found in the [[Halo 3 Delta|''Halo 3'' Delta]] build.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/nt87o2/gameplay_of_cut_halo_3_multiplayer_level_warthog/|Site=Reddit|Page=Gameplay of Cut Halo 3 Multiplayer Level Warthog Inc.|D=07|M=7|Y=2021}} Design documentation shared by Hoberman shows Warthog Inc as intended for 4-8+ players, and was in development by the time ''Halo 3'' ended pre-production.{{Ref/Reuse|Hoberman}}

File:H3 Vidoc WarthogInc.png|Bungie developers playing Warthog Inc in the ''Is Quisnam Protero Damno!'' ViDoc.

File:H3 WarthogInc Screenshot.png|The level preview icon for Warthog Inc in the ''Halo 3'' Delta.

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==Sources==

{{Ref/Sources}}