Halo: Combat Evolved (PC)

***Halo: Combat Evolved for PC***, also known as ***Halo PC***, is a Windows and Macintosh port of *Halo: Combat Evolved*. The Windows port was was released on September 30, 2003, by Gearbox Software, and on December 14, 2003, by Westlake Interactive. A demo of the port was released before the launch of the ports.

With the 2014 release of *Halo: The Master Chief Collection*, the multiplayer component included for *Halo: Combat Evolved* was that of *Halo PC*, including all previously PC-exclusive maps, weapons and vehicles.

In April 2014, it was announced that the multiplayer lobby services of *Halo PC* and *Halo Custom Edition* would be rendered unusable by May 31 with the shutdown of GameSpy's multiplayer servers. In response of the shutdown, a new patch was developed and released by Bungie developer Roger Wolfson (also known as Sawnose) and a small group of *Halo* fans (Btcc22, Kornman00 and Technut) which will move the soon-to-be-shutdown GameSpy services to a non-GameSpy server.

## Features

Gearbox added a few additional features that were not seen in the Xbox version, such as a free online multiplayer as opposed to its counterpart on the original Xbox, which only featured split-screen and LAN capabilities. The online multiplayer featured the ability to browse the multiplayer lobby for online matches, direct connection to the server via IP address and the ability to run the game in "Safe Mode" (for computers that do not meet the PC requirements).

Six months after launch, a multiplayer-only expansion called *Halo Custom Edition* was released, allowing players to mod the game and create new features, such as custom multiplayer maps.

### **New Weapons**

* **Fuel Rod Gun** - Available in multiplayer. A Fuel Rod Gun is the Covenant equivalent of the rocket launcher. Instead of rockets, it fires arcing fuel rods and does not have a zoom, although the fuel rod gun has a higher rate of fire, it uses a battery, and can overheat like other Covenant weapons.
* **Flamethrower** - Available in multiplayer. Was originally planned to be in the Xbox version but never appeared because of time constraints. The Halo PC Flamethrower is very similar to the *Halo 3* Flamethrower, with the exception of a longer fuel nozzle, and it does not pull you out to third-person view or slow you down.

### **New Vehicles**

* **Banshee** - Available in multiplayer. This is the only Banshee in the trilogy that can fly backwards, albeit poorly (this was used instead of the hover function).
* **Rocket Warthog** - Absent from the Xbox version, the Rocket Warthog has a triple barrel rocket launcher with a rate of fire similar to the infantry version, but has a horrendous reload rate. It also has unlimited ammunition and travels at the same speed of a normal warthog.
* **Shade** - The stationary turret that was absent from the Xbox multiplayer version, it is available in certain maps in *Halo PC*.

### **New Multiplayer Maps**

* Death Island
* Gephyrophobia
* Danger Canyon
* Ice Fields
* Infinity
* Timberland

## Demo

***Halo: Combat Evolved* Trial** is the official name of the demo version for *Halo: Combat Evolved*, for both PC and Mac.

### **Features**

* **Campaign -** Only the Silent Cartographer mission can be played in the *Halo* trial. The level features similar environment, weapons and enemies but players would not be able to save the level, as doing so would restart the level.
* **Multiplayer** - Blood Gulch is the only map featured in the game with the capability of hosting up to sixteen players per game. In contrast to *Halo: Combat Evolved*, *Halo* trial's version retains similar weapons and vehicles but features low graphics settings, as players are encouraged to buy the full version. There are only two gametypes: CTF Classic (First to 3 Flag Captures) and Free-For-All Slayer (First to 25 Kills). However, you can still play different game types by choosing your filters and joining an existing game.

## System Requirements

### **Windows**

* Microsoft® Windows® 98SE and up
* PC with 733 MHz equivalent or higher processor
* 128 MB of system RAM
* 1.3 GB available hard disk space
* 8x speed or faster CD-ROM drive
* 32 MB T&L capable video card (RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED)"IT IS REQUIRED FOR SOME EFFECTS TO BE SEEN SUCH AS YOUR DIFFERENT ARMOR COLORS AND THE POWER METER ON THE COVENANT WEAPONS"
* Sound card, speakers or headphones required for audio
* Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
* 56.6 Kbps or better modem or LAN for online play;
* Broadband to run a server
* Of course Keyboard and Mouse or compatible pointing device

### **Mac**

**Minimum**

* Mac OS X 10.2.8 or higher
* PC with 800 MHz G4/G5 or faster processor
* 256MB RAM
* 32MB Video Card (GeForce 2MX/ATI 7500 or better)
* 1.4GB hard disk space
* Internet or LAN connection required for online play

**Recommended**

* 1GHz G4/G5 or faster processor
* Mac OS X 10.3 or higher
* 512MB RAM
* 64MB Video Card (GeForce 4ti-ATI 9000 or better)

**Note:** Halo will run normally on Intel-based Macs. However, due to having to run in the Rosetta PPC emulator, there is an impact on performance. For this reason, MacSoft/Destineer has released a Universal binary update. The update is $5 and available from the developer's website.
## Safe Mode

Safe Mode runs Halo PC with as many things off as possible. It allows a reduced version of the game to run for computers with lower-end hardware or to troubleshoot errors. To enable Safe Mode:

1. Right-click on the Halo shortcut icon and click "Properties."
2. In the "Target" field, add *-safemode* to the end. It should look similar to this:

```
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo\halo.exe" -safemode

```

## Trivia

* *Halo* was originally going to be released exclusively for the Mac as a third-person RTS, until Microsoft's acquisition of Bungie, which prompted the Xbox, and later, PC version. The game was intended for use on PowerPC Macs, and will crash if used on a newer Intel Mac. Bungie and MacSoft have since released a patch allowing for universal use of the game. With macOS Catalina and newer releases, 32bit apps like Combat Evolved are no longer supported.
* Some changes were made from the Xbox version in the graphics. Jackal shields are not different for Major and Minor, and do not change color as they get damaged (which were probably problems that the bitmaps and animations weren't loaded, from a release-time perspective), Shaders and multipurpose textures were converted incorrectly causing objects such as stationary shields too have a different appearance, the reflection of some weapons reduced their strength, and Shades change as well. Captain Keyes also uses the beta version of his textures. A full list of issues can be found elsewhere.
* Halo PC can be played without the CD as of Patch 1.08.
* The product key for Halo PC could unlock a nameplate for your Spartan in *Halo: Reach*.
* The Double Vehicle Driving Glitch is a glitch that is unique to Halo PC and cannot be done on the Xbox version.
* GameSpy, the service which provides Halo PC's internet multiplayer, shut down on May 31, 2014. Players are no longer be able to browse for internet multiplayer matches, but LAN and Direct IP are still functional.
	+ On April 28, 2014, GameRanger announced that it will support the Halo PC multiplayer servers.
		- Bungie released patch 1.10 for Halo PC on May 14, 2014. The update moves GameSpy services to use a new, non-GameSpy server and also fixes various other issues.

## External Links

* Halo PC on Bungie.net
* Halo Trial Video

## Resources

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Eurogamer - GameSpy servers to shut down next month (April 22, 2014)
2. ↑ Eurogamer - Bungie to update Halo PC with GameSpy server fix (May 16, 2014)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bungie.net (archive.org) - Halo PC/CE 1.0.10 now available (May 16, 2014)
4. ↑ Bungie.net (archive.org) - Sawnose (July 26, 2010)
5. ↑ GameRanger - Halo 1 now on GameRanger (April 29, 2014)