Forums | MacLife

Wumpus · 2005-12-20 5:09 am

My friend and I are wondering if this is doable. We've swapped out marines in the SP for Spartans, which is very cool, but not the same. And messed about with swapping things around. But we want to know if either someone has done it, or B, can it even be done? The xbox version has a co-op mode, I don't understand why the Mac doesn't. And Stubbs the zombie is going to have a co-op mode shortly on the Mac side.

I've seen people convert SP maps into MP maps, so couldn't you somehow take the LAN aspect and simply apply to the SP maps?

I mean even Marathon 2 (released 7 years ago) had a co-op mode. Anyway, just hoping it can be done somehow, unless it requires modifying the source code or something... (Beyond the obvious that someone woudl have probably already done this.)

OR If you know why co-op didn't make it in the conversion process, I'd like to know that as well.

Thanks!

Zander · 2005-12-20 10:03 am

Nope. sad

IcarusFountain · 2005-12-20 10:08 am

There are actually SP maps for multiplayer, but its not the same as playing campaign missions with a friend (the maps that have been made for MP lack the sophisticated AI for the enemies, and doesn't have the programmed waypoints for your mission.

As for why there's no true co-op, its because of the sophistication of things like AI, player movement (and NPC movement), the sizes of levels, etc. The Xbox could handle co-op on a single system, but not via LAN/internet. Since there's no real way to play 2 players on one PC or Mac, the only option for co-op is via LAN/Internet, which can't handle the processes for keeping track of movement of both players and NPC AI.

And I'm glad you mentioned Stubbs. The Xbox version actually supports co-op via LAN/Internet, so its more likely to get co-op (via patches, if nothing else) for Mac/PC. Keep in mind, though, that its built on the original Halo engine, which has been around for 4-5 years now.

Wumpus · 2005-12-20 11:11 am

Hmm, thanks for the replies. I was just doing some more reading, and back in 2003 right near the release they were saying Gearbox might release a patch later on that give coop to PC & Mac. Seeing as its 2 years later, this seems unlikely...

I was hoping I could get a bunch of Mac users to petetion them or something, but if you say it can't be done well then, there you have it.

IcarusFountain · 2005-12-20 1:28 pm

Quite the opposite, in fact; I'm saying that it should be possible, if Stubbs is getting such a patch. It just didn't have it from the get-go because of how much data would have to be transferred over the connection.

If they're able to do it for Stubbs, that means they've found a way to streamline that data transfer--4 years experience with a game engine really helps when you want to introduce new tricks.

Wumpus · 2005-12-20 5:37 pm

Oh! Ok, I just somehow misunderstood you. All's my friend and I want is to co-op over LAN. We'd almost do anything to do that. Maybe in a few months to a year? (hoping) big_smile

IcarusFountain · 2005-12-20 6:57 pm

Well, if you're willing to do almost anything, you could email Gearbox, offer them money to fund the project, etc. Ultimately, Gearbox has more control over such a patch being developed, and it would probably rely on Wideload sharing some of their knowledge with Bungie/Gearbox.

Bat · 2005-12-20 7:04 pm

As I recall it, Gearbox said they really wanted, and tried, to get coop mode working, but were unable to by ship date. They did hope for a patch, or barring that, that the mod community would be able to do it. People are still working with HaloCE (which is not on the Mac) and either have, or are close to getting/ have gotten Campaign working for CE. That'd be another step closer.

Gearbox themselves moved on from Halo after getting very little support for the large amount of unpaid extra work and content they developed for the game, and support only CE, basic Halo PC support incl. patches being handed back to MS. MacSoft supports Mac Halo, so little extra content besides patches to maintain consistency with HaloPC, and perhaps one more rendering patch to bring full parity with HaloPC visually (it's close, but not fully there) when Apple OpenGL advances sufficiently, is about all the extra one might now hope for from that direction.

Coop is difficult; remember it involves quite a few things involving the AI interacting with two player entites, two different sets of viewed geometry etc. Stubbs will probably get coop, but it's not certain, and the code is not available to modders AFAIK.

Last edited by Bat (2005-12-20 7:04 pm)

IcarusFountain · 2005-12-21 10:56 am

It should hit for Stubbs; the Xbox version is capable of co-op over Live and LAN.

Bat · 2005-12-21 4:17 pm

IcarusFountain wrote:
It should hit for Stubbs; the Xbox version is capable of co-op over Live and LAN.

I would think so, but you know, I did interview Glenda about this. Text still on my desktop.

19) Co-op mode on Mac/PC?

Co-op won't be in the shipping version of Stubbs PC/Mac. Whether we enable it later in a patch, only the zombie knows

Glenda Adams
Director of Development, Aspyr Media [etc]

tongue ...and if you hung more at IMG, you'd've caught gems like

the Battle Cat Co-op Stubbs is still a possibility for the Mac/PC market. It just won't be available on release but Aspyr said they may offer a patch later on that will give us that. Because of the Halo physics, I for one am looking forward to playing co-op Stubbs just to be able to jump into a sod-o-mobile and play demolition derby with Grubbs. As far as I'm concerned, Halo was created just so two or more players could bash their warthogs into one another in a free-for-all demolition derby. The air time is amazing and the sod-o-mobiles are ALREADY a bit airborne... it would be perfect for this. It doesn't sound like much talking about it but if you have tried it you will know what I'm talking about. Stubbs has jeeps too, it would be a hoot to clean out the citizenry and play a little DD in army jeeps too.

Maestro I did that with my fianc�, it is pretty fun. The best part is the music that plays when you are driving it.

the Battle Cat Don't make me come over there and eat your brains. Cause I will. Gosh I can't stand it when other people are having fun and I'm sitting here tapping keys. So anyway Aspyr, did you hear that? Demolition Derby in Stubbs is fun! Listen to your base! I've got 4 people in my base now and we demand to be heard!

I was going to post this next thingy in the Doom movie news thread but it really belongs here.

What I want to see more than Doom is the Stubbs movie. Finally, to see the Zombie's point of view on the big screen. "They no let us eat brains. Why they no let?" Oh the drama, the carnage, the hubba hubba love scenes. I'm thinking Kevin Bacon is perfect for the part. He hardly needs any makeup at all! Sign Kevin, ink a deal with Acme Cow Brains Ltd, give Hunt's time to gear up production of ketchup, and I'll sit in the front row watching brains arc 30 feet on each side of me!

http://www.insidemacgames.com/forum/ind … p;p=235871

Forums | MacLife

#1 2005-12-20 5:09 am

Halo Mac Co-op? Is it even possible?

#2 2005-12-20 10:03 am

Re: Halo Mac Co-op? Is it even possible?

#3 2005-12-20 10:08 am

Re: Halo Mac Co-op? Is it even possible?

#4 2005-12-20 11:11 am

Re: Halo Mac Co-op? Is it even possible?

#5 2005-12-20 1:28 pm

Re: Halo Mac Co-op? Is it even possible?

#6 2005-12-20 5:37 pm

Re: Halo Mac Co-op? Is it even possible?

#7 2005-12-20 6:57 pm

Re: Halo Mac Co-op? Is it even possible?

#8 2005-12-20 7:04 pm

Re: Halo Mac Co-op? Is it even possible?

#9 2005-12-21 10:56 am

Re: Halo Mac Co-op? Is it even possible?

#10 2005-12-21 4:17 pm

Re: Halo Mac Co-op? Is it even possible?

IcarusFountain wrote:

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