Parts in this article series: 1 | 2 | 3
I've mentioned before that for casual gamers, buying an Xbox is a sensible proposition. One doesn't need to be overwhelmed with the task of updating DirectX and downloading the latest video card drivers. On a console, everything is expected to just work; this value is prioritized over features or expandability. This is made possible, because writing software for fixed target hardware allows developers to concentrate on stability and bug fixing within a specific environment.
As of now, you can pick up a game console and a game (take an Xbox and Halo, for example) for the same price as a retail, middle-of-the-road video card. You can plug the console into a TV - a device that will likely be present in the typical home already. The console's place in a home is strictly for playing games. With the exception of homebrew software, as in Xbox Linux or Sony's version of Linux for the PlayStation 2, you can't check your e-mail, surf the Internet, or pay your bills using a console. There's a good reason manufacturers put the word gaming in front of "console".
Rightly so, the PC and Mac are multifunction devices that do more than play games, and as a result, the options and configuration are more complex. Casual gamers, especially those on dial-up connections, should be warned: While playing online games over a 56K modem might be tolerable, downloading updated video card driver packages will be much less so. Nobody likes watching a download progress screen, especially if that progress bar returns to zero because someone else picked up the phone.
Therefore I believe it is fair to say that if your computer's requirements are at the low end of the performance spectrum, Halo PC/Mac might not be for you. While the essential four components for restoring an older computer to life (the CPU, motherboard, RAM and power supply) can be purchased for some of the lowest prices in quite some time, the cost of these items needs to be considered when deciding how badly you want to use the Flamethrower.
Putting this decision another way, you will be paying for the game, the upgrades, the Internet service, and the electricity required to run all of the computing equipment. Worst of all, if your upgrades don't go as planned, you will be paying in lost time. Nobody likes a game that crashes: after all, it's a game, and you're supposed to experience a certain feeling known as fun while playing one.
Experienced gamers, with a $4000 rig and the skill to use it, will be slightly more impressed with Gearbox's offerings. For them, a $60-80CDN outlay for the game is merely a trifle. Chances are, they've already got an Xbox and Halo, and want to pay for the chance to show off their mad skills to the broader Internet gaming community. Another reason that hardcore gamers might be interested in Gearbox's title is the new, improved keyboard and mouse support. There's no denying the fact that it's easier to aim with a keyboard and mouse than it is to aim with a controller; especially if you're already experienced with the K&M combination.
Applications such as XBConnect or Gamespy Tunnel might be good enough for casual gamers that have decided not to invest in the computer version; all that's required is a switch and an Ethernet cable. For people interested in a more solid connection to the outside world, however, Gearbox's improved networking code is a convincing reason to put down the coin.
One thing that frustrates countless gamers above all is latency. Commonly referred to as "lag", it results when information from one computer and Internet connection takes too long to reach another computer. If information is not provided fast enough, or with enough accuracy, choppiness results. For example, if playing System Link games using an Internet gateway tunnel, pressing the A button repeatedly is a bad idea. Termed "rushing", the consoles often will not get a chance to synchronize with each other, causing massive latency for every console except the host. In most cases, the lag is so extreme that the connection will be dropped.
A situation such as this can become almost comical, when an attempt to curse at a dropped connection or laggy game over XBConnect's built-in chat is censored. The fact that the message wasn't communicated properly will often result in another attempt to curse. In desperate efforts to get their foul-mouthed message across, hot-headed gamers will mutilate the cursing so it cannot be asterisked out. Laughably, the end result often ends up being similar to "Phaking biznatch lag!!!"
In the transition of Halo to the computing world, however, Gearbox opens up the game to cheaters, campers, spawn killers and the wide variety of scum that were spawned in the depths of Counter-Strike. In any sort of online game, there will be the people that are new to the game, yet insist in aggravating expert players by joining games clearly entitled "Pros only". Accompanying these new players is their unique form of speech, n00bspeak, which is much like English, except poorly spelt. At a real LAN party, one must be quick with the insults and comebacks; "i r da godd wif da snypr" doesn't cut it in real life.
Regarding cheaters, services such as Even Balance Inc's PunkBuster will curtail cheaters effectively. Although there have been reports of "false positives" (Kazaa Lite is one example, which patches Kazaa dynamically in memory), these services, merely by being present, encourage players to stay legitimate. Halo for the PC/Mac is not on the list of supported games; publishers must contact Even Balance directly, and that's something Gearbox has not mentioned.
Whether Gamespy's service will end up being more of a straight server selector, or similar to Blizzard's Battle.net chatrooms and additional join/create game interface, remains to be seen. There are advantages to both types of setups, but the server list certainly requires less bandwidth and needs less policing by server operators. Unlike XBConnect, a dedicated team of operators is not really required, if there's no chatroom to flood, brag, spew color codes to, or advertise in.
Tux might never get a chance to gaze upon this game. Whatever Microsoft touches has a tendency to disagree with open-source software, specifically Linux.
It's not all roses for experienced gamers, though. Because Linux has been listed as Public Enemy Number Two at Microsoft, there's an icicle's chance in hell that Gearbox will be allowed to distribute a Linux server for Halo PC. Although a Win32 server might be made available as a free download, for people attending LAN parties, the Linux server will be delegated to doorstop duty. Unfortunate, really, as Linux has proven its viability as a server platform time and time again.
Within the game, some interesting additions might take place. Although there's bound to be an in-game text chat of some sort, taunt phrases and hand signals would make a nice addition to the game, unlike current online play. Communication using XBConnect tends to consist of "corpse humping". It's also a choice to use such applications as Roger Wilco. Gearbox has been noncommittal at this point, but it's unlikely that voice communication will be an in-game feature.
Thinking along the same lines, it'd also be an added bonus if Jeff Steitzer, the Multiplayer voice announcer for Halo, had been secretly hired to add some new lines of dialogue. Who wouldn't love to hear such phrases as "Death from above!" or another variation of "Killtacular"? Well, certainly not the losing team – but that's not really the point. Most Halo gamers I know have impersonated the announcer at one point or another: why not have the real thing?
Ah, the lovely scene of someone with an upcoming double kill on their hands.
In no way should you be discouraged from trying the game if you've never heard of Halo, or your computer is still running Windows 3.1. Rather, the investment in an Xbox and Halo for the console might be worth your time and money, if you're new to PC gaming. If you like that combination but want to extend your game's life, a gateway program like XBConnect, X-Link Messenger or Gamespy Arcade and a proper network setup will suffice, plus it will get you in a good position to get into online gaming services, such as Xbox Live. Remember the little sequel Bungie is working on? Well, Halo 2 will be fully Xbox Live compatible, so a subscription in November, or as a gift for the holidays, might be a very good idea.
I've got some bumps you can map right here. If you already own an Xbox and a copy of Halo, investing in decent network equipment and an Xbox Live subscription might be an alternative option. Instead of purchasing Halo PC, you can enjoy online play with your current version, and be ready for when Halo 2 arrives on store shelves.
Not purchasing Halo PC/Mac on launch date, or shortly thereafter, isn't just an option for people indifferent about the Halo universe. If you already are lucky enough to have an Xbox Live subscription, how about broadening your gaming interests? Midtown Madness 3, MechAssault and Return to Castle Wolfenstein are all being played online, at this very moment, by thousands of gamers. If you're not into online games, plenty of Platinum Hit titles are available for the console. Although they might not be up to the same caliber as Halo, some of them are quite good. One of my personal favourites that didn't quite make the Platinum Hits cut, Quantum Redshift, can be found for a bargain price in your local EB.
Although I can't help you much if you're an anti-Microsoft zealot, your option might be to go purchase an Apple computer and then subsequently buy Westlake's port of Halo for the Macintosh. While it'll still have the Microsoft brand on it somewhere, you'll be minimizing your exposure to the company you deeply hate. Mac users should consider what I've said above about upgrades: chances are, to upgrade your system might cost a bit more than a comparable PC upgrade.
The chances are also not good for PC/Mac Internet gaming. While Blizzard has managed to do this successfully with Diablo II and Warcraft III, MacSoft has had much less luck with games that they have ported to the Apple line of computers. Their Age of Empires II support page states that "We are still exploring the possibility of developing Mac vs. PC multiplayer capability for all of our game titles. There are still issues to be resolved in that regard, though. You're welcome to check our site periodically." Considering as Halo is on their list of upcoming games, if compatibility is possible, it should be treated as an "extra" rather than a guaranteed feature.
Users of other game consoles, such as the PlayStation 2 or Nintendo GameCube, should definitely give Halo a try on Xbox, and then evaluate their budgets. Is your current computer system capable enough; or are you satisfied with your current game console? The choices from this point should be obvious enough, as Microsoft will not likely let Halo go to any other console platform.
So in conclusion, if your computer is not up to the minimum specifications for Halo PC or Mac, it might be worthwhile to take a bit of time off: get your computer all upgraded; perhaps check out XBConnect for PC, or Aquaduct for the Mac; maybe even invest in a better Internet connection. Then you can decide whether to purchase the game after the first price drop. On the other hand, if your computer's ready, then the only question remaining is "Are you ready for Halo?"
This concludes the third and final part of this article series. I hope you enjoyed the read. In no way do I endorse any company, product or service when I write these articles; links to websites are out of The Junkyard control and should be treated as purely informational. By all means, leave your comments in the various sections' comment pages; if you don't have a tJY account, you can always e-mail me at evrgrn98@msn.com. For more authoritative information about Halo PC in a community-like setting, visit the Gearbox Halo PC forums.
