>>I love QT6Pro but my WMPlayer9 works OK (I just wish it hade those QT codecs that make it possible to go frame by frame) (I guess they tried with that new slow-motion feature).

I know “IN-Engine” graphics when I see them and the trailer looks like its testosterone fueled!!!!
>>We all must remember that the Xbox was designed to do ‘High-definition’ so almost all the games for it never push-it to its limits.
I think, until NOW.
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The trailer only lets us know that this game will kick all forms of ass over other FPS.
EVEN “DOOM III”!
HAY don’t bust on me…DOOM III will look and play great but HALO2s story is tight!
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I have to admit that I really got that “I’m a hero in a ‘big budget’ movie feeling” when I played halo the first time.
Not just because of the graphics but, because the stores better then some.
Heck, when I was playing HALO my MOM thought it sounded like I was watching an Action Movie!!! HAHA…HEHE.

>>Also did anyone else like the new halo sound the way it began as the current theme and smoothly added the female over-tones that was just the perfect touch to a sequel like this one.

As far as Halo (one) went, the Bungie team did an outstanding job with this game. Considering the fact that they were rushed by Microsoft to complete the game hints that Bungie should make Halo 2 at least 50 times better. Even though I literally love to play Halo, there are some things that I wish Halo had. Here is a list of what I think Halo 2 needs.

--In multiplayer games, they should include the option to have every
vehicle available in that multiplayer level. For example, in Halo
you could customize the gametype in multiplayer, it allowed you
to choose what vehicles you wanted for that level, but they did
not include the Banshee for multiplayer usage. I love to fly the
Banshee, think of how fun it would be to fly it in multiplayer
against your friends!

--Halo 2 needs to support more than 2 players to join into a
cooperative game, and at the same time, allow either system link
coop and XBOX Live coop as well.

--Halo 2 needs to have "bots" available for multiplayer, even though
bots are not real poeple you play against, they can still make a
small (as in a few players) game more fun. You should also be able
to edit the bots as well: such as choose their model, skill, weapon
preferences, personality traits (rushers, snipers, or more), and
vehicle usage.

--Halo 2 should have a larger selection of multiplayer modes. For
instance, say you wanted to see how long you and your buddy can
hold the fort against oncoming Covenant controlled by the XBOX,
just like the multiplayer coop game for the first Aliens vs
Predator game where the aliens just keep comming. I just think
that a larger chioce of multiplayer scenarios should be available.
Not just where you always have to have 3 or 4 people to have fun
on multiplayer.

--Halo 2 should also give you the options to give orders to those
pesky little Marines who always got in the way. Orders such as
"hold this position", "cover me", "go, go, go", "take that enemy
out", ...stuff like that would be great.

--Halo 2 should also learn from the highly successful internet game
Counterstrike. For online play, Halo 2 needs a similar game type
where it's the Marines vs. the Covenant. As in Counterstrike, you
should be able to choose your side, the model you want, and the
weapons you carry. Maybe throw in some vehicles to drive also. That
would be awesome.

--Halo 2 also needs to have some really cool urban environments,
since the game will be on Earth. Maybe a lot more environment
interaction, like trees falling down when you shoot them and
stuff like that.

As far as single player campaigns went for Halo (one), Halo 2 should
base its single player on it, just improve some small things with their new engine to run Halo 2 on. As you can see, I mainly dwelled on the fact that Halo 2 needs some better multiplayer stuff. Not that the original Halo has bad multiplayer, there are just some things I wished it had. To bad I don't work for Bungie, then I might be able to get them to put all the above into Halo 2. Im sure they will do a great job though. Just seems like an awfully long wait, but I know it will be worth it.

Here are some interesting ideas about halo and how it could be improved (or made more interesting) through halo 2. (mostly ones relavent to multi player.)

1. -Weapons-
OPINIONS-
I loved the balance of weapons in halo 1. Human weapons that is. Maybe its just my agressive play-type, but I rareley find myself using a plasma weapon let alone a needler (in multiplayer anyways.)
I reallly wish the covanent arsenal included a sniper rifle*, a plasma machine gun**, or even an elite's sword would be neat. I liked the existing grenades, but why not ripp off counterstrike and bust out some smoke grenades and flashbangs? As for the assault rifle, I guess they've already decided about that in egm's cover of halo 2. Lets hope it does some damage. And this is spose to be the future, right? Where the heck is the laser sighting? Ah maybe i'm wrong about that last one, it'd probably be more for show i guess.
CONCEPTUAL IDEAS-
*I hear there are going to be plenty of new weapons for covanent and humans alike, and this is one i'd really like to see come throught. I would imagine somethine like a long range version of the sentry's laser beam. There'd be no one shot kill's but it'd be great for people who can't aim and would work wonders against people in wide open spaces. It would be capable of over-heating.
**My answer to the covanent machine gun/shotgun. I'd imagine it to shoot tons of small bits of plasma, but not have the kind of spray-recoil the assault rifle does, more like a bunch of individual barrels that fired at the same speed but in random patterns.

2. -Vehicles-
OPINIONS-
Absolutley nothing wrong with the orginals, just wish there were a bigger variety. I would've loved to use the covanent tank somehow in halo 1, not to mention the banshee. Another thing that i really thought should have been available were SHADE turrets for multi-player mode... oh well. From what i've heard so far there's gonna be 3 new versions of the warthog. Keep em comin..
CONCEPTUAL IDEAS-
I'll stick to letting bungie make it's own vehicles, but one thing i did think would be neat would be a probe of some kind. Floating or crawling.... kinda like that little remote controlled spider in the new turok game. Whether it would have any kind of defensive mechanism er not is beyond me, these are all crazy ideas that could probably throw the games balance off totally.

4. -Characters-
OPINIONS-
Not much to say here. Might be a little more fun to have more customizable attire, not unlike so many pro skating games these days.
CONCEPTUAL IDEAS-
Your probably thinkin, what's this freak tryin to sell me here? There's only one charcter d****t! Well, i think it would be neat if we had a little diversity in inborn abilities here. Basically there'd be the three known races, covanent* (probably an elite er somethin), human** (mc conditioner), and flood*** (the dominent one not the marine one).
* Covanent would basically be physically tougher,a little more melee damage, a little more shields, and possibly better/more accurate with covenent weapons.
** Humans play as master chief, so he'd stay the way he is.... "master of any weapon, pilot of any vehicle". He'd be the par for health , jumping ability, strength at melee and throwin grenades. Only he'd be best with human weapons of course, making of for his lack of the flood and covenents inborn abilities.
*** Flood would have a horribly strong melee, super super jump and landing factor, and alot of speed i'm guessing. Only downfall is that they'd be poor with all weapons and and have good health but no shields.

3. -Maps-
OPINIONS-
Halo had some great multi-player maps (my fave bein damnation.)The only thing i have to say is probably more facility like arenas with lots of doors and things to sneak around. The think i like best about damntion is that its not just a big circle, it has long halways for snipin and close quarters for casual shotguning and sneaky melee attacks. but its not a maze either... its simple but not simple enough to know every corner before the head shot is made.
CONCEPTUAL IDEAS-
Uhhhh... how bout a flag where u have 2 airbases, barley visable of each other, no land between them, only air. A banshee to banshee dog fight?

well, not much else to input other than i'm a bit worried about Xbox live with no keyboard (yea i know theres a headset.) Otherwise i gues i've put more than my 2 cents in here, hope you enjoyed it

VED