You may have read some of Bungie's weekly updates about the number of things going on behind the scenes in Halo 3. Specifically, the sky you see in Halo 3 is much more complex than you might believe. The game engine simulates the pollution and other particles in the atmosphere that cause the sky to appear blue, when in actuality the sky is not blue at all. Granted, you won't ever notice this effect as you're playing a game of Slayer, but it is there. As proof of this, we present to you this video of a Banshee flying far into the sky of Valhalla. The Banshee flies so high that it actually pierces the cloud cover and reaches an altitude at which the sky is no longer blue and stars are visible. Honestly, it's pretty serene up there. Just a little food for thought the next time you waste some fool with the Spartan Laser.
[Thanks, Muffin Man1]
Reader Comments (24)
Posted: May 25th 2007 3:51PM (Unverified) said
"My god, it's full of stars!"
You sir, get a gold star from me :)
Reply
You sir, get a gold star from me :)
Posted: May 25th 2007 3:52PM (Unverified) said
I think Bungie spent so much time recreating the way the particles in the sky make the sky look blue, etc because they are including some sweet battles that start on the ground and continue in space, that way we could see the difference on the way out of the atmosphere.
Just my thoughts.
Reply
Just my thoughts.
Posted: May 25th 2007 3:59PM (Unverified) said
I bet one of the Multiplayer maps starts out with the assaulters dropping in or infiltrating into a spaceship.
That'd be slick.
Reply
That'd be slick.
Posted: May 25th 2007 4:00PM (Unverified) said
Oh my gosh! The planet's horizon is CURVED! Pause it at 00:45 left; you can see the slight curve on the horizon. Bungie, you rock my whole planet!
Reply
Posted: May 25th 2007 4:42PM (Unverified) said
so there is actually a sky there with clouds that actually change shape...impressive, and so is the water =O
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Posted: May 25th 2007 4:52PM (Unverified) said
In some regards, this is pretty neat, but it definitely makes me question why Bungie would do that unless there was a specific reason. I mean, it just seems like a lot of work for something people may never get to enjoy, right?
Makes you wonder...
Reply
Makes you wonder...
Posted: May 25th 2007 5:07PM (Unverified) said
I'm thinking or HOPE that it may actually be there to serve a purpose. Perhaps they did all that to be able to change different times of day without having to completely redo the lighting effect. Like simulate dusk, dawn, high noon, night and so on.
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Posted: May 25th 2007 5:15PM (Unverified) said
I'd just like to point out this is not my video. I just submitted it as news, of course you probably know from the watermark it isn't mine. I do however have a really neat video that does belong to me in the future which, as not as impressive as this, pretty cool.
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Posted: May 25th 2007 7:18PM AL7AIR said
@ Gino
I'm with you on this one, because I hope we will be able to fight in the dawning Valhalla with its fog filled riverbeds that you see in the background of the beta main menu ... because I believe the Spartan Laser will light up the scenery quite nice :)
Reply
I'm with you on this one, because I hope we will be able to fight in the dawning Valhalla with its fog filled riverbeds that you see in the background of the beta main menu ... because I believe the Spartan Laser will light up the scenery quite nice :)
Posted: May 25th 2007 7:46PM (Unverified) said
Never seen anything quite like that before, better than Elite, heh!
Closest thing is the champagne cork scene from Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck World of Illusion.
Very impressed.
Reply
Closest thing is the champagne cork scene from Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck World of Illusion.
Very impressed.
Posted: May 25th 2007 7:50PM (Unverified) said
That'll put up a few more questions on that Bungie Question thread...
http://xbox.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/bungie-wants-your-halo-3-beta-questions/
Reply
http://xbox.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/bungie-wants-your-halo-3-beta-questions/
Posted: May 25th 2007 11:40PM (Unverified) said
WWEEEEE! big F'n deal. the game itself kicks ass though.
Reply
Posted: May 25th 2007 11:43PM (Unverified) said
wow, the banshee isn't an aircraft its a spaceship
i mean oh my god
he is a freakin astornaut
he went into space
and came back
he died
but still
astonishly amazingly tits
yes yes eys
Reply
i mean oh my god
he is a freakin astornaut
he went into space
and came back
he died
but still
astonishly amazingly tits
yes yes eys
Posted: May 26th 2007 2:06AM m4xn00b said
that was pretty beautiful, even though its still beta. i know a lot of people have been complaining about the grahpics, and how its not as good as gow, but THAT is why, the environments are HUGE and bungie has put a lot of work into making all the particle/polltuoin effects. people just dont consider these thngs and just complain about how the graphics are inferior, when in fact they are not. Very good job Bungie.
Reply
Posted: May 26th 2007 2:14AM (Unverified) said
Well if I remember correctly at the end of Halo 2 your crusing down at the planet in that ship. To be continued?...
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Posted: May 26th 2007 3:36AM (Unverified) said
The sky isn't blue because of pollution or particles, its' because oxygen reflects blue light.
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Posted: May 26th 2007 6:31PM (Unverified) said
Amazing - I agree it will likely be part of the gameplay, with the player approaching from space in a larger ship to be deployed on the planet's surface and vice versa. The possibilities are pretty sick.
Terrific work - that shot from space with the visible curvature of the planet...insane - who would've thought you'd see that in an FPS? At first you think "why bother? why not save the CPU for making the terestrial graphics better?" but we know Bungie is up to something. Halo 2.5 my ass ;-)
Reply
Terrific work - that shot from space with the visible curvature of the planet...insane - who would've thought you'd see that in an FPS? At first you think "why bother? why not save the CPU for making the terestrial graphics better?" but we know Bungie is up to something. Halo 2.5 my ass ;-)
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