HSV-area THX’ers:

Let’s hold a major THX LAN. A HALO: PC LAN.

Say what? A PC LAN? This is madness!

Let’s me explain why I think a PC LAN would be possibly a better way to LAN Halo PC. And then let me know how you feel about this. But, you’ll have to check your PC gaming vs console gaming debate at the door.

The reason we are going to LAN on PC is because near the same amount of hardware OR LESS is required to LAN on PC and there are some software advantages built into the Halo PC game that make Halo: CE gaming more enjoyable.

Advantages to LAN this way:

1) First off, you can hook your XBOX 360 or original XBOX controller (with USB connector) to the PC and play just like you could on the console. So, you don’t have to worry about having to use a keyboard or mouse. That said, some of the gamers can choose to use the kb/m if they like.
2) Get your own screen. You don’t have to share. Fullscreen gaming at a resolution as high as whatever your video card can support. When you LANned on XBOX, you could only play on up to 4 XBOXen at a time. No more 240p gaming (yeah, you only had 240 lines of horizontal resolution at most when you splitscreened on a TV). You can game at 1600 x 1200 or higher if you want on a PC monitor. 16 players can have their own screen.
3) Play on your laptop. Imagine just bringing a little notebook computer and that’s all you need.
4) Halo PC works well on old machines. In 2004, Halo PC ran just fine on Intel Centrino laptop computers. Chances are that your laptop bought in the last couple or 3 years or old desktop PC will run the game adequately. The game is almost 6 years old.
5) The server browser will make finding/setting up games very easy.
6) Really easy to divide up teams as you don’t have to compete with screen real-estate of others at the LAN.
7) HD graphics/audio.
8) You can Facebook while you wait to respawn after I kill you.

So, the main reason to LAN on PC is because everyone can have their own screen and because it’s a lot easier to set up games as you don’t have to auction off TV screens to teams/players.

Think of it as an old school Halo 1 LAN but with your own screen, up to 16 players, and the ability to play with a controller or keyboard and mouse.

Several THXers will have multiple computers to loan out for the day. For instance, I can bring two desktops and one laptop computer for someone to game on. I don’t want to do it, but I will if that means we’ll get better participation I will. Chances are that you have a computer (laptop or desktop) that’s good enough to run Halo PC. After all, Halo PC came out in 2003; over 5 years ago. I think it will be easier logistically to LAN Halo PC than on console. BYOC.

The system requirements are relatively low compared to the computers most of you have today:

CPU: 733 MHz processor
RAM: 128 MB RAM
Video card: 32 MB T&L capable video card
Hdd space: 1.2 GB free hard drive space

Differences between Halo: PC and Halo: XBOX:

1) The fuel rod cannon spawns on some maps (above shotgun alley on Hang ‘Em High, middle of the map on Blood Gulch, for example). Flamethrower also available.
2) Minor geometry changes in the ditch in Hang ‘Em High and the windows of Battle Creek.
3) New maps: Timberland (Blood Gulch-sized map; great for Team Slayer, CTF, or Assault), Danger Canyon (perfect for Assault and CTF), Infinity (largest Halo map in the series; not good for anything but large CTF gametypes; yuck), Ice Fields (fun Sidewinder-sized CTF/Assault map; also good for TS), Gephyrophobia (another stupid Gearbox map that we won’t touch) )and Death Island (large multilevel map for CTF).
4) New gametype: Assault (take the flag from your base to the enemies’ base; kind of like assault in Halo 3).
5) Halo: Custom Edition: see location markers for your teammates on the map. Also, custom content, which I’m near 100% sure we won’t use.
6. Banshees available in multiplayer.

Tips:

1) Bring a headset. Noise pollution sucks. Avoid having to bring speakers. Just plug into your audio out and wear headphones (even your iPod ear buds). [If you have never played Halo (or any video game for that matter) with a pair of headphones I guarantee you will hear sounds that you’ve never heard in a game.]
2) If we get support, we’ll setup a Ventrillo voice chat so that teams can have voice comms. So, bring a $2 mic to plug up.
3) If you already have the game, install the latest updates.
4) Regardless of what your video card can handle, gaming Halo PC at a resolution near 800 x 600 seems best for reasons that are hard to explain in just a few paragraphs.

Will we play Halo: Custom Edition? Good question. I’ll investigate and present my findings later.

You can try the demo to Halo: PC here: http://www.microsoft.com/games/halo/default.aspx

Also at that link you can read up on the game.

The game can be bought for $20 easily at most video game stores and online (like at Amazon). eBay and other places are selling the game for cheaper (near $10).

Disavowed, I believe, has found a way to install Halo PC on everyone’s computer without the need to purchase the game.

Date and location for this event is TBD. However, I am considering having this event at my house in June.

Looking for support here.