Hello again, fellow Halo players, mappers and modders!



The time has come again to start working on the yearly update for the Universal UI. Since it's hugely-successful launch in early 2013, this main-menu replacement for Halo CE has enabled people to play what they want to play, without console commands, workarounds, or hassles. It has taken a locked-in browsing system and turned it on its head to better fit a game based on custom creations.


Now it's time to collect the community's input. What would you like to see in this year's update? Suggestions may include, but are not limited to:

• New singleplayer or firefight maps


• Adjustments to menu structure/layout


• Changes in music


• BSP-related additions


• Support items for HAC or OS


• Alternate map download repositories


• Any other ideas, within reason

Keep in mind, this is being done in a 14+ year old engine. There are limitations to what I can do, such as:

• Menus must fit within a 640x480 palette


• Menus themselves cannot be animated


• Bipeds/vehicles/weapons cannot be placed


• The profile-switcher button cannot be mapped to a gamepad (Menu-layering)


• Engine-driven lists, such as multiplayer maps/some settings, cannot be modified

Well, I've been talking too long. Give me some ideas! This is for you guys.
- ♡ MoooseGuy

Add a secret button that shows nudes or something.

make em of altis

Make the graphic design aspects more modern. Sure it wouldn't look as halo 1-esque, but if I wanted it halo 1-esque I'd just use the default UI.

Also make sure the music doesn't suck.

Is it possible with either support from OS or preferably with HAC2 being able to get some organization with multilayer maps, like pictures that can load form a folder that can go in to the map window description, or adding a description to maps like in a .txt file, or being able to rename maps in mp maps in menus "that don't change there MP name" for better organization

Really anything that can get the MP side of things nicer, which I know is probably impossible....

EDIT just read the last line...... my bad :)
Edited by Xx1Talon1xX on Mar 2, 2015 at 01:04 PM

*Googles Altis*
Like this?



I'm going to need some suggestions of what would be better.


Yeah... I wish I could do cool stuff like that with the multiplayer side. It's one of the things people ask about most, but I'm powerless to do anything with it. Hopefully the creators of HAC and/or OS can do something cool on their end.
Edited by MoooseGuy on Mar 2, 2015 at 01:14 PM

Support for CMT lumoria!

Personally, I think I'd like a UI that's similar to the original Combat Evolved (Xbox) UI. Whatever route you go with it, it'd be nice if it was easier to tell if a button was highlighted or not.

Please add in a slot for TM SPv3 Evolved!

If you leave Halo CE with the UI on for a very long time, have this play as that's exactly how it happens on the xbox as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7C5umFXHfY

Credits page - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBbRJoHTJAM

In all seriousness I really don't know what else you could do. UUI V1.1 was pretty awesome.

Maybe reorganize the title screen? Looks a little empty.
Edited by TailsTheGamer on Mar 2, 2015 at 02:44 PM

Would it be possible to find a way so when a player clicking on a SP or fire fight map. It would the begin downloading the map?

The halo 4 menu music was great, it's on the second album of the soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wm8gk3Doj4&list=PLVFu5mCs8PVgU00fIU16tYF42SmshPN6m

Would be cool to add it please.
Edited by aki64 on Mar 2, 2015 at 04:15 PM

Hereby a request for an alternate soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDToc7J57v8
Cheers!

This!

no

Maybe a page on the single-player/firefight section that explains how to add single-player maps and execute them through console?
I understand you guys try to add as many of the prominent maps as possible but there's always the few stray ones, or brand new releases that you can't keep up with that cant be in the UI.

Overall I think an update on the single-player/firefight map pool is in order.

Cheers!

i made a ui map some time ago and put new shaders on it



only ideas

just use this

Isn't it possible to make the text appear in 3D model file and be highlighted when pointed through scripts ?
Or the model does th background and UI does the highlight.

I remember that UI elements can be linked to scripts, not sure if one can be linked for highlight though. This way you could bypass 640 screen space

or UI does brackets around it ?
Edited by bourrin33 on Mar 2, 2015 at 07:09 PM

You're not being sarcastic, right? I love hardstyle+hardcore.
....and hardbass
...and speedcore
..and gabber
.and thunderdome

This is also why I never get stereo privileges when driving with friends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTnHdWA9WTE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoPUorqaV94
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB3ZkAc9Sws
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li5hbGQUEBk

Is it possible to split multiplayer maps into default and custom? So it looks a little neater/cleaner.

Or have the ability to hide singpleplayer maps in the map selection section.
Edited by Nanou2 on Mar 2, 2015 at 07:29 PM

more dubstep
also a built-in mlg montage maker

I'm sure it's something being given consideration already, but an OpenSauce configuration menu would be great. Whilst .ini editing is all fine and dandy, having a proper in-game config menu would certainly make things a lot easier and neater. And while yeah, I'm aware that a lot of OS-enable levels have their own in-game menu, it's kind of janky to have to boot into a level just to change a few settings.

Wow all these plebs...

Music that might actually be good for a UI:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36B225lLvY4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3FznotHuJA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtLHiou7anE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RsdMs-Whlo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg0mDyelSrA

For graphic design things like a bit more minimalism (those things on the sides of selected options in the screenshot someone posted look a bit weird), less gradient abuse, drop shadows can be fine but only sparingly (google's new design style guide thing had a good bit on dropshadows you can probably find searching). But overall just look at UIs from newer games to get a feel, or web designs and similar things, ideas will pretty much translate straight over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJVmu6yttiw
this for UI music (joking)

In all my time as an OS consumer... I have no idea why this never came to mind.
Awesome idea.

but the 12 year olds would actually like it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa-8GsMhznc
use this op

The new OS has it's own UI that can be accessed any time.

Aphex Twin would be a good choice imho

aphex twin would instantly make it the best ui.

we'll be in touch

You, I like you.

Duly noted. The first is a known error, and the other two will be fixed in the update. Thanks for bringing those two to my attention.

That's actually a pretty good idea. I think it would also help encourage the use of these extensions throughout the playerbase. I'll look into it.

Holy crap! I never expected the Spartan Strike music to actually be this good. I'll definitely look into increasing the variety of music in the UI. As far as fonts go, we had a lot of issues with different fonts that we tried. The one that I finally settled on was one of the few working fonts, free of missing characters or pixel wackiness. But that doesn't mean changing it isn't on the table. The UI style design is one that took a long time to implement, and we feel it fits the modern Halo look (think Halo 4 or H5B). But some slight tweaks might be made between now and the fall.


This is a feature that I have worked with the creators of HAC 2 and OS to try and implement. Currently, it doesn't look like it's going to happen. But it could still happen in the future, if we figure something out.


A lot of people thought that the woman singing in this was very grating to the ears. I'm gonna have to say I agree with them. But I might put in some other music from 4.


Zetren suggested adding an informational page for extension key combos. If we end up putting that in, then I think this could also be done. Thanks for the request!


I think trying to make this work would just be more pain for less gain. Doing something like this would increase tagspace, cause issues with FOV, and possibly impact performance. I know 640x480 isn't optimal, but it is what it is in a game of this age.


Nope. The multiplayer map list is hard-coded, and the singleplayer map list is defined by hard tag references in the UI map file.



Also, shout-out to those people who listen to Hardstyle techno. BOOM BOOM BOOM baby!
Edited by MoooseGuy on Mar 5, 2015 at 02:39 PM

I had a plan about modifying the Halo's UI's settings section to insert an existing button for open a settings to access H-Ext's GUI menu (0.6.x planned feature). I did think about keeping everything original and just "borrow" the existing bitmaps to generate menu/settings. However, that's not going to happen as I have my new layout drafted on a paper for better management. When I was looking for a certain value of what page/section the UI's menu is currently at, I almost got exact location in the memory then lost it. I'm wondering if the UI has a defined number...

For example:
0 - main menu
1 - single player
2 - Update Checker
3 - Multiplayer lobby list
4 - Profile
5 - Settings list
6 - gamepad selections (enable/disable)
7 - video settings
etc...

If my theory is true, then perhaps add a button to defined number with bitmap background page stating "If you are expecting menu from third-party to show up and isn't showing up, then you might not enabled/installed it yet." including back button of course.

P.S. H-Ext's 0.6.x to work on is long, long way to go...