Destineer subsidiary MacSoft has posted an official Web page for their forthcoming release of Halo: Combat Evolved, the long sought-after first person shooter originally developed by Microsoft’s Bungie Studios.
The official Web page has tons of details about the game, including an updated release date: December 11, 2003 (a previous press release from MacSoft had pegged that date a week earlier at December 3, 2003 instead), as well as official system requirements for the game.
For Xbox gamers, much of what’s been put on the site will be old hat, but there are plenty of new surprises. MacSoft’s Web page provides a broad overview of what to expect from this new title, including some of what’s changed in the Mac release, which is based on the recently-released version developed for Windows PCs by Gearbox.
Augmentations to Mac (and PC) Halo include improved multiplayer support — the game supports up to 15 other Mac or Windows users at a time; a variety of different multiplayer modes; dramatically improved graphics on video cards capable of supporting pixel shaders; higher resolution; new weapons like the Fuel Rod Gun (for multiplayer) and the Flame Thrower; and the ability to fly the Covenant’s feared Banshee ships in multiplayer, a new rocket-equipped Warthog (the intrepid all terrain vehicle used by human forces); and support for Covenant gun turrets in multiplayer.
Also detailed on MacSoft’s Halo page are details about the six new multiplayer maps included with this release. Although the Web site doesn’t feature all of them, they do have a couple off screenshots showing off two of them: Timberland, an expansive outdoor environment; and Gephyrophobia, a wide-open map bordered with cliffs and bridges spanning huge chasms.
There’s more on that page, so make sure to check it out.
MacSoft’s final word on minimum system requirements for the game call for a G4/800MHz or faster; Mac OS X v10.2.8; 256MB RAM; 32MB AGP-based graphics (Nvidia GeForce2 MX or ATI Radeon 7000 or better); 1.4GB hard disk space and Internet or LAN connection for online play.
Recommended system requirements call for a G4/1GHz or faster; Mac OS X v10.3 “Panther;” 512MB RAM; 64MB AGP-based graphics (Nvidia GeForce4 Ti or ATI Radeon 9000 or better).
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