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OEMs should get Vista before it hits retail. Dell could make some dough selling a Vista Premium/H2 bundle with their XPS and Quad SLI systems this Xmas maybe...

Anyway, for those who missed it, all kina neaty keeno stuff on H2 Vista from a little while back:

Folks often think of a port as a simple task, but it usually has its own unique challenges. Can you describe the technical and intellectual hurdles of a project like Halo 2 Vista?

First, we don't think of the project as a port; we think of it as the Windows Vista version of Halo 2. Technically we have to do things like upgrade the shaders to the latest version, implement content streaming from the DVD, hone the multiplayer experience, support both the Xbox 360 controller and keyboard/mouse control, and make sure the game runs on multiple hardware configurations.

Halo 2 was designed for a fixed hardware platform, and that means the game creators could optimize for that in their code and with their content, squeezing every little bit of power out of the hardware. There are many hardware-specific extensions on the Xbox console, and a game such as Halo 2 uses many of them to pack top-notch gameplay and visuals into a very small set of resources. Even though current PC hardware is much more powerful, it has many configurations, and the same optimizations are not always possible. We must take this very specific implementation and make it general without sacrificing quality or performance; that can be a difficult task. Windows Vista simplifies this for PC developers; that is one of the main reasons we have chosen to go with a Vista-only implementation. We are not willing to sacrifice quality and game play for our gamers.

Console and PC controls are obviously different; one has a standard game pad and the other has a myriad of input devices. For our gamers who enjoy the console style of play we are going to ensure that the Xbox 360 controller is available; for those hard core keyboard and mice folks we will be working hard to make sure the game feels balanced to you as well.

One of our biggest challenges is in moving the work of one of the best game studios  in the world to a new arena without sacrificing any of their original vision. Being able to work hand in hand with the original creators helps us significantly. Bungie was involved with the Windows version of Halo 1; they have intimate knowledge of what worked and what didn't. We are able to directly tap that knowledge.

http://bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?st … ;p=6466552

It's been uncertain until recently. Since H2V will support both kb/m and the 360 controller, tho, you can compete against 360ers who have both that way. Let the 360 jockeys with Vista PCs use their controllers.

And OT except for the 360 angle, H3 seems to be progressing nicely...

A loosely held together with tape and string tournament has started at Bungie, where we'll be playing against other teams of two in Halo 3 multiplayer. I have teamed up with KP to form Team Cobra Kai. We'll be sweeping knees next week on two of the more polished levels. One of those is waaaaaaay more finished than the other, and is probably the most graphically accomplished Halo thing ever. And it's not finished. While playing that level, we got killed over and over again because we were staring at the HDR lighting and the eerie, iridescent surfaces that make up some of the objects on that map.

It's thrilling to think that the graphics we see in that map are the absolute baseline for how good our stuff should look. Even that pretty, pretty map is missing a bunch of graphical features, although to be honest, I had to be told that. The more detailed character models look surprisingly good on SD TV sets too. I had kind of assumed that they would be best appreciated on an HD set, but the fact is that the extra shadow, detail and realism looks every bit as impressive on our crappy old 14 inch test sets.

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.asp … xteenohsix

After missing an article or three, the latest:

...

What part of the game do you work on?
I am the Project Lead or Producer/Director, depending on what part of the industry you come from. I wear multiple hats when it comes to Halo 2 for Windows Vista; For some of my day I am the manager of the team, dealing with staffing, and career issues; then with my semi-director hat I look after the issues relating to the implementation of the project, design, dev, Art, Test, External teams, basically keep all the moving parts moving; and with the Producer hat I look after budgets and schedules.

Favorite part of Halo 2 Vista?
Being a girl, the “sparklies” tend to get my attention first, and there is no disappointment with the graphics in Halo 2 for Windows Vista.

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.asp … ethiredgun

If by 'for the Mac' you mean for OSX, it isn't. However, it should be playable on Intel Macs via Bootcamp, which already has beta support for Vista.

A sprinkle in the Update, tho it's half commercial:

Matt Priestley, currently hard at work on the ever-more impressive looking Halo 2 for Windows Vista, wanted to chime in with a quick update about the project:

We know some of you want to hear more about the online plans for Halo 2 on Windows Vista. Microsoft will soon have a lot more to say about the Live gaming and entertainment network on Windows, but what we can tell you now is that you’ll be able to play H2V online and even interact with your friends on the Xbox 360 at zero cost (although Halo 2 doesn’t support cross-platform multiplayer). Now that said, there are going to be some very tempting reasons for you to upgrade to a full paid Live Gold membership. We’re sure you want to know more, but you’ll just have to wait until Microsoft is ready to spill the beans.

I like the 'ever-more impressive looking' part, but the rest is good too, if a bit transparent re: Vista & XBL marketing.

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?cid=9300

The interaction with 360s is in things like communication. PC-console play is not happening.

They said that

(...Halo 2 doesn’t support cross-platform multiplayer).

...almost from the beginning. You haven't looked in in the last few months?